Dictionary  al•ka•loidPronunciation: (al'ku-loid"), [key] Biochem., Chem.,Pharm. —n. any of a large class of organic, nitrogen-containing ring compounds of vegetable origin and sometimes synthesized, some of which are liquid but most of which are solid, that have a bitter taste, that are usually water-insoluble and alcohol-soluble, that combine with acids without the loss of a water molecule to form water-soluble hydrochlorides, hydrobromides, or the like, and that usually exhibit pharmacological action, as nicotine, morphine, or quinine. —adj. resembling an alkali; alkaline. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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