noun
strychnine
STRIHK-neen
Strychnine (noun) means a highly poisonous, bitter crystalline compound extracted from certain plant seeds, historically used to kill rodents. Example: “The detective suspected strychnine poisoning after finding traces in the victim’s tea.”
noun
1
A highly poisonous, bitter crystalline compound extracted from certain plant seeds, historically used to kill rodents.
"The detective suspected strychnine poisoning after finding traces in the victim’s tea."
How to use strychnine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA deadly poison originally derived from plants, once common in mystery fiction and as a pesticide.
Common pairings
strychnine poisoning
traces of strychnine
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Word forms
- Plural
- strychnines
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The detective suspected _____ poisoning after finding traces in the victim’s tea.
Etymology
From French strychnine, ultimately from Ancient Greek strykhnos, a name for a type of nightshade plant.
Rhymes for strychnine
See all rhymes for strychnine →Frequently asked questions
What does “strychnine” mean?
The word “strychnine” means a highly poisonous, bitter crystalline compound extracted from certain plant seeds, historically used to kill rodents. In plain terms, a deadly poison originally derived from plants, once common in mystery fiction and as a pesticide.
How do you pronounce “strychnine”?
“Strychnine” is pronounced STRIHK-neen (/ˈstrɪkˌnaɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “strychnine” in a sentence?
Here is “strychnine” used in a sentence: “The detective suspected strychnine poisoning after finding traces in the victim’s tea.”
What part of speech is “strychnine”?
“Strychnine” is a noun.
Where does the word “strychnine” come from?
The word “strychnine” comes from Ancient Greek. From French strychnine, ultimately from Ancient Greek strykhnos, a name for a type of nightshade plant.
