capsaicin
nounUK /kæpˈseɪ.ɪ.sɪn/
US /kæpˈseɪ.ə.sɪn/
A natural stuff in hot peppers that makes your mouth feel spicy and hot.
The capsaicin in the chili made my tongue burn.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A substance used in creams to relieve pain in muscles and joints.
The doctor gave her a capsaicin cream for her sore knee.
3. A chemical studied by scientists for its effects on the body's nerves.
Researchers tested capsaicin to learn how nerves sense heat.
4. A natural pest deterrent found in some pepper sprays.
Farmers use capsaicin sprays to keep animals away from crops.