Definition

A colorless, smelly chemical compound that is produced when animal tissue decays.

Example

The researchers studied the effects of putrescine on plant growth.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of putrescine?

Yeah, isn't it that compound found in decaying meat?

Exactly! It's produced when animal tissues break down.

That's so interesting, though a bit gross!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Putrescine is derived from the Latin root "putrescere" (meaning to rot or decay) and the suffix "-ine" (commonly used in chemistry to denote substances). The word "putrescine" refers to a compound associated with the process of decay, hence its connection to rotting.

Memory Tip

Think of the Latin word for rotting ('putrescere') to remember that 'putrescine' is a substance related to decay.

Visually Confused Words