noun

hemlock

HEHM-lok

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Hemlock (noun) means a highly poisonous flowering plant, or the deadly poison extracted from it. Example: “In ancient Athens, condemned prisoners were sometimes executed by drinking hemlock.”

noun

A highly poisonous flowering plant, or the deadly poison extracted from it.

"In ancient Athens, condemned prisoners were sometimes executed by drinking hemlock."

"All parts of the hemlock plant are toxic if eaten."

A type of coniferous evergreen tree native to North America, unrelated to the poisonous plant despite sharing the name.

"The trail wound through a forest of tall hemlock trees."

How to use hemlock

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUsually means the deadly poisonous plant famous for killing Socrates; can also mean an unrelated evergreen tree.

Common mistake

The hemlock tree is not poisonous — only the herbaceous hemlock plant (and its relative, water hemlock) is deadly.

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: hemlocks

Test yourself on “hemlock” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

In ancient Athens, condemned prisoners were sometimes executed by drinking _____.

Etymology

From Old English hemlic or hymlice, of uncertain deeper origin — the poisonous plant and the unrelated hemlock tree just happen to share the same English name.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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devil's bread devil's porridge herb bennet poison parsley poison hemlock Conium maculatum Conium chaerophylloides

Related words

Bennet

Frequently asked questions

What does “hemlock” mean?

The word “hemlock” means a highly poisonous flowering plant, or the deadly poison extracted from it. In plain terms, usually means the deadly poisonous plant famous for killing Socrates; can also mean an unrelated evergreen tree.

How do you pronounce “hemlock”?

“Hemlock” is pronounced HEHM-lok (/ˈhɛmˌlɒk/ in IPA).

How do you use “hemlock” in a sentence?

Here is “hemlock” used in a sentence: “In ancient Athens, condemned prisoners were sometimes executed by drinking hemlock.”

What is another word for “hemlock”?

Words with a similar meaning to “hemlock” include devil's bread, devil's porridge, herb bennet, poison parsley, poison hemlock and Conium maculatum.

What part of speech is “hemlock”?

“Hemlock” is a noun.

Where does the word “hemlock” come from?

The word “hemlock” comes from Old English. From Old English hemlic or hymlice, of uncertain deeper origin — the poisonous plant and the unrelated hemlock tree just happen to share the same English name.

How many meanings does “hemlock” have?

“Hemlock” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a highly poisonous flowering plant, or the deadly poison extracted from it.

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