ENGLISH
REFERENCE

sarin

n. uncountable
C2 Proficiency US //sɑɹɪn// sarin

n. a very dangerous chemical gas that can cause death or serious injury if inhaled. It is a type of nerve gas used in some types of chemical warfare.

n. a highly toxic, colorless, and odorless nerve agent that functions as a cholinesterase inhibitor. It is a volatile liquid that evaporates quickly into a gas, causing rapid respiratory failure and death.


SIMPLE

The military facility was destroyed to prevent the release of sarin.

CONTEXTUAL

International treaties strictly prohibit the production and use of sarin and other chemical weapons in warfare.

COMPLEX

The chemical structure of sarin allows it to bind irreversibly to acetylcholinesterase, leading to a catastrophic accumulation of acetylcholine in the nervous system and subsequent paralysis.

Synonyms
Origin

Named after the initials of its creators, Gerhard Schrader (1903–1990), Ambros, Rüdiger and Van der Linde.

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