Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Poison
Poi′son
,Noun.
1.
Any agent which, when introduced into the animal organism, is capable of producing a morbid, noxious, or deadly effect upon it;
as, morphine is a deadly
poison
; the poison
of pestilential diseases.2.
That which taints or destroys moral purity or health;
as, the
poison
of evil example; the poison
of sin.
Syn. – Venom; virus; bane; pest; malignity.
–
Poison
, Venom
. Poison usually denotes something received into the system by the mouth, breath, etc. Venom is something discharged from animals and received by means of a wound, as by the bite or sting of serpents, scorpions, etc. Hence, venom specifically implies some malignity of nature or purpose. Poi′son
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Poisoned
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Poisoning
.] 1.
To put poison upon or into; to infect with poison;
“The ingredients of our poisoned chalice.” as, to
poison
an arrow; to poison
food or drink. Shak.
2.
To injure or kill by poison; to administer poison to.
If you
poison
us, do we not die ? Shakespeare
3.
To taint; to corrupt; to vitiate;
as, vice
poisons
happiness; slander poisoned
his mind.Whispering tongues can
poison
truth. Coleridge.
Poi′son
,Verb.
I.
To act as, or convey, a poison.
Tooth that
poisons
if it bite. Shakespeare
Webster 1828 Edition
Poison
POISON
,Noun.
1.
A substance which, when taken into the stomach,mixed with the blood or applied to the skin or flesh, proves fatal or deleterious by an action not mechanical; venom. The more active and virulent poisons destroy life in a short time; others are slow in their operation, others produce inflammation without proving fatal. In the application of poison, much depends on the quantity.2.
Any thing infectious, malignant, or noxious to health; as the poison of pestilential diseases.3.
That which taints or destroys moral purity or health; as the poison of evil example; the poison of sin.Definition 2024
poison
poison
English
Noun
poison (countable and uncountable, plural poisons)
- A substance that is harmful or lethal to a living organism.
- We used a poison to kill the weeds.
- Something that harms a person or thing.
- Gossip is a malicious poison.
- (informal) A drink; liquor.
- - What's your poison?
- - I'll have a glass of whisky.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Terms derived from poison
Translations
substance harmful to a living organism
|
|
something that harms
Verb
poison (third-person singular simple present poisons, present participle poisoning, simple past and past participle poisoned)
- (transitive) To use poison to kill or paralyse somebody
- The assassin poisoned the king.
- (transitive) To pollute; to cause some part of the environment to become poisonous
- That factory is poisoning the river.
- (transitive) To cause something to become much worse
- Suspicion will poison their relationship.
- He poisoned the mood in the room with his non-stop criticism.
- (transitive) To cause someone to hate or to have unfair negative opinions
- She's poisoned him against all his old friends.
Synonyms
- (to pollute): contaminate, pollute, taint
- (to cause to become worse): corrupt, taint
Derived terms
Translations
to use poison to kill or paralyse
|
|
pollute
make worse
References
- “poison” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).
- poison in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
French
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /pwa.zɔ̃/
Etymology
From Old French, from Latin potio, potionis.
Noun
poison m (plural poisons)