poison
POY-zuhn
Poison (noun) means a substance that can injure or kill a living thing if it enters the body. Example: “The label warned that the cleaning liquid was a poison if swallowed.”
noun
1
A substance that can injure or kill a living thing if it enters the body.
"The label warned that the cleaning liquid was a poison if swallowed."
"The farmer kept the rat poison locked away from the children."
"Certain mushrooms contain poison that attacks the liver."
2
Anything that causes serious harm, especially to a relationship, situation, or reputation.
"Constant suspicion is poison in a marriage and slowly destroys trust."
"A rumour like that can be poison for a young politician's reputation."
"Gossip is poison to any team's morale."
verb
1
To harm or kill using poison.
"The gardener poisoned the weeds along the path with a strong chemical."
"In the old story, the witch poisoned an apple to harm the princess."
"The killer poisoned his victim's drink."
2
To corrupt or ruin something, or to turn someone against another person.
"Years of bitter arguments poisoned the relationship between the two brothers."
"His constant complaints poisoned the whole team's attitude."
"She tried to poison her friends against him with lies."
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.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
deadly poison
poison someone's mind
slow poison
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Word forms
- Plural
- poisons
- Third person singular
- poisons
- Past tense
- poisoned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The label warned that the cleaning liquid was a _____ if swallowed.
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
View more →Antonyms
Related words
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.
