cyanogenic

adjective

cy·​a·​no·​gen·​ic ˌsī-ə-nō-ˈje-nik 

sī-ˌa-nō-

variants or less commonly cyanogenetic

ˌsī-ə-nō-jə-ˈne-tik 

sī-ˌa-nō-

: capable of producing cyanide (such as hydrogen cyanide)

a cyanogenic glucoside

cyanogenesis

ˌsī-ə-nō-ˈje-nə-səs 

sī-ˌa-nō-

noun

Examples of cyanogenic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While cooked lima beans are safe to eat, raw lima beans contain toxic compounds called cyanogenic glycosides, which break down into hydrogen cyanide, a compound that’s toxic to humans. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 2 Sep. 2024

But this question may arise because 3,000 years ago almonds were bitter and poisonous through the accumulation of deadly levels of cyanogenic diglucoside amygdalin, basically cyanide. —Delaney Nothaft, USA TODAY, 9 Sep. 2023

And certain fruit seeds, such as apple seeds, fruit stones and peach pits, contain cyanogenic compounds. —Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 26 Sep. 2022

The toxic component of the hydrangea is called cyanogenic glycoside. —Jennifer Nelson, Southern Living, 17 June 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

cyanogenic

adjective

cy·​a·​no·​gen·​ic ˌsī-ə-nō-ˈjen-ik, sī-ˌan-ō- 

variants also cyanogenetic

-jə-ˈnet-ik 

: capable of producing cyanide (as hydrogen cyanide)

cyanogenic glycosides

Cassava is cyanogenic, and varieties are recognized as being either bitter or sweet (i.e., containing high or low amounts of cyanide).

—Darna L. Dufour, Bioscience

cyanogenesis

-ˈjen-ə-səs 

noun

plural cyanogeneses -ˌsēz