poison
Poison (noun) means a substance that can injure or kill a living thing if it enters the body. Example: “The farmer kept the rat poison locked away from the children.”
How to Use Poison
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething that harms or kills if taken in, or figuratively something that damages a situation or relationship.
Word Forms
poisoned past tense, poisons plural, poisons singular
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The farmer kept the rat _____ locked away from the children.
Etymology
From Old French poison, from Latin potio, "a drink" — originally just meant "a drink" or "potion" before narrowing to mean a harmful one.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for poison
See all rhymes for poison →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “poison” mean?
The word “poison” means a substance that can injure or kill a living thing if it enters the body. In plain terms, something that harms or kills if taken in, or figuratively something that damages a situation or relationship.
How do you pronounce “poison”?
“Poison” is pronounced POY-zuhn (/ˈpɔɪ.zən/ in IPA).
How do you use “poison” in a sentence?
Here is “poison” used in a sentence: “The farmer kept the rat poison locked away from the children.”
What part of speech is “poison”?
Depending on how it is used, “poison” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “poison” come from?
The word “poison” comes from Latin. From Old French poison, from Latin potio, "a drink" — originally just meant "a drink" or "potion" before narrowing to mean a harmful one.
Is “poison” a common word?
“Poison” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “poison” have?
“Poison” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a substance that can injure or kill a living thing if it enters the body.
What is the difference between poison and venom?
A poison is a substance that injures or kills when it is swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed — it harms once it enters the body. Venom is delivered actively by a bite or sting, as with snakes, bees, and scorpions. That is why mushrooms are described as poisonous while cobras are described as venomous.
What is the difference between a poison and a toxin?
A toxin is a poison produced by a living organism, such as bacteria, plants, or animals. Poison is the broader word for any substance that can injure or kill a living thing if it enters the body, whether natural or man-made.
Can poison describe things other than substances?
Yes. Poison is commonly used for anything that causes serious harm to a relationship, situation, or reputation, as in "jealousy is poison to a marriage." As a verb it carries the same figurative force: to poison a friendship is to corrupt it or to turn people against one another.