laetrile
Plural: laetriles
Noun
- A controversial substance promoted as an alternative cancer treatment.
- a substance derived from amygdalin; publicized as an antineoplastic drug although there is no supporting evidence
- A drug, derived from the amygdalin of apricot kernels, once thought capable of destroying cancer cells by the release of cyanide but later banned in the United States by the FDA.
Examples
- Playing LAETRILE on a triple word score felt like a risky, but potentially rewarding, move.
Origin / Etymology
A contraction of l-mandelonitrile, from Ancient Greek ἀμυγδάλη (amugdálē, “almond”) + -o- + nitrile.
Synonyms
vitamin B17
Scrabble Score: 8
laetrile: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordlaetrile: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
laetrile: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary
Words With Friends Score: 10
laetrile: valid Words With Friends Word