Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Poison?

\Poi"son\, n. [F. poison, in Old French also, a potion, fr. L. potio a drink, draught, potion, a poisonous draught, fr. potare to drink. See {Potable}, and cf. {Potion}.] 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. {Poison ash}. (Bot.) (a) A tree of the genus {Amyris} ({A. balsamifera}) found in the West Indies, from the trunk of which a black liquor distills, supposed to have poisonous qualities. (b) The poison sumac ({Rhus venenata}). [U. S.] {Poison dogwood} (Bot.), poison sumac. {Poison fang} (Zo["o]l.), one of the superior maxillary teeth of some species of serpents, which, besides having the cavity for the pulp, is either perforated or grooved by a longitudinal canal, at the lower end of which the duct of the poison gland terminates. See Illust. under {Fang}. {Poison gland} (Biol.), a gland, in animals or plants, which secretes an acrid or venomous matter, that is conveyed along an organ capable of inflicting a wound. {Poison hemlock} (Bot.), a poisonous umbelliferous plant ({Conium maculatum}). See {Hemlock}. {Poison ivy} (Bot.), a poisonous climbing plant ({Rhus Toxicodendron}) of North America. It is common on stone walls and on the trunks of trees, and has trifoliate, rhombic-ovate, variously notched leaves. Many people are poisoned by it, if they touch the leaves. See {Poison sumac}. Called also {poison oak}, and {mercury}. {Poison nut}. (Bot.) (a) Nux vomica. (b) The tree which yields this seed ({Strychnos Nuxvomica}). It is found on the Malabar and Coromandel coasts. {Poison oak} (Bot.), the poison ivy; also, the more shrubby {Rhus diversiloba} of California and Oregon. {Poison sac}. (Zo["o]l.) Same as {Poison gland}, above. See Illust. under {Fang}. {Poison sumac} (Bot.), a poisonous shrub of the genus {Rhus} ({R. venenata}); -- also called {poison ash}, {poison dogwood}, and {poison elder}. It has pinnate leaves on graceful and slender common petioles, and usually grows in swampy places. Both this plant and the poison ivy ({Rhus Toxicodendron}) have clusters of smooth greenish white berries, while the red-fruited species of this genus are harmless. The tree ({Rhus vernicifera}) which yields the celebrated Japan lacquer is almost identical with the poison sumac, and is also very poisonous. The juice of the poison sumac also forms a lacquer similar to that of Japan. Syn: Venom; virus; bane; pest; malignity. Usage: {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\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Poisoned}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Poisoning}.] [Cf. OF. poisonner, F. empoissoner, L. potionare to give to drink. See {Poison}, n.] 1. To put poison upon or into; to infect with poison; as, to poison an arrow; to poison food or drink. ``The ingredients of our poisoned chalice.'' --Shak. 2. To injure or kill by poison; to administer poison to. If you poison us, do we not die ? --Shak. 3. To taint; to corrupt; to vitiate; as, vice poisons happiness; slander poisoned his mind. Whispering tongues can poison truth. --Coleridge.
\Poi"son\, v. i. To act as, or convey, a poison. Tooth that poisons if it bite. --Shak.