Standard Lemma guide

penicillamine

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˌpɛn.ɪˈsɪl.ə.miːn/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A crystalline, sulfur-containing amino acid produced by the hydrolysis of penicillins, used pharmacologically as a chelating agent to remove heavy metals such as copper from the body, and as an anti-inflammatory agent, especially for rheumatoid arthritis; 2-amino-3-methyl-3-mercaptobutanoic acid, (CH3)2C(SH)CH(NH2)COOH.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: biochemistry, biology, chemistry, medicine, microbiology, natural-sciences, pharmacology, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a drug (trade name Cuprimine) used to treat heavy metal poisoning and Wilson's disease and severe arthritis

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: Cuprimine

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: medicine, medication, medicament, medicinal drug

History

Etymology

Blend of penicillin + amine.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Italian: penicillamina — breakdown product of penicillin
  • Spanish: penicilamina — breakdown product of penicillin