WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
ca•chec•tin
(kə kek′tin),USA pronunciation n.
- Biochemistry, Immunologya protein that is released by activated macrophages as an immune system defense and, when the defense is overwhelmed, is a cause of cachexia or toxic shock: in humans, identical with tumor necrosis factor.
- Greek kachekt(ikós) unwell (see cachexia, -tic) + -in2
'cachectin' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):