poison1 nounpoison2 verb
poisonpoi‧son1 /ˈpɔɪzən/ ●●○ noun 
WORD ORIGINpoison1
Origin:
1200-1300 Old French ‘drink, poisonous drink, poison’, from Latin potio; ➔ POTIONEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Nationalism is a poison that has caused much suffering.
- The child was rushed to the hospital after eating rat poison.
- At the camp, the doctor gave me a choice: rat poison or the stick.
- But then the truth about the massive doses of poison which Allitt administered to those babies in her care was uncovered.
- Cyanide fishermen learn exactly where and when grouper go to spawn; they then squirt their poison with practiced precision.
- He wore a white uniform and carried a spray can of poison with a long wand.
- One side of the apple was white and had no poison.
- Stay calm and keep the child calm: panic speeds poison absorption.
- The circuitry was composed of electric eels, and there were colorful fish and liquid poisons and numerous examples of evil.
- Villagers could have been sitting on a chemical poison with untold consequences to health.
WORD SETS
AC, accessory, nounadapter, nounaerosol, nounalarm, nounarm, nounash, nounattaché case, nounbag, nounbar, nounbarrel, nounbeep, verbbeeswax, nounbell, nounbelly, nounbelt, nounbench, nounbenzine, nounbinding, nounbiro, nounbolt, nounbooth, nounbox, nounbox, verbbrad, nounbriefcase, nounbristle, nounbrolly, nounbrush, nounbucket, nounbuckle, nounbuffer, nounbulb, nounBulldog clip, nounbulletin board, nounbullhorn, nounbung, nounbunting, nounbusiness card, nounbutt, nounbutton, nounbuzzer, nouncable, nouncalling card, nouncan, nouncandle, nouncane, nouncarbon, nouncarbon copy, nouncarbon paper, nouncard, nouncardboard, nouncardboard, adjectivecardboard cut-out, nouncard catalog, nouncarrier, nouncarrier bag, nouncarryall, nouncart, nouncarton, nouncartridge, nouncase, nouncaster, nouncatch, nounCellophane, nouncesspit, nounchain, nounchalice, nounchannel, nounchart, nounchute, nouncitronella, nounclamp, nouncleat, nounclip, nounclipboard, nouncomb, nouncombination lock, nouncompartment, nouncord, nouncrank, nouncrate, nouncrepe paper, nouncycle, noundetector, noundial, noundigital, adjectivedisposable, adjectivedrape, verbdrawing pin, noundryer, noundurable goods, nounDurex, nounearplug, nounelastic band, nouneraser, nouneyelet, nounfabric, nounfelt-tip pen, nounfemale, adjectivefence, nounfiberglass, nounfibreglass, nounfigurine, nounfilament, nounfile, verbFilofax, nounfire extinguisher, nounfirewood, nounfitness, nounflag, nounflagon, nounflagstaff, nounflashlight, nounflat, adjectivefloodlight, nounfoam, nounfoam, verbfog, verbfolder, nounfoolscap, nounforecourt, nounfountain, nounfountain pen, nounframe, nounfunnel, nounfuse, noungadget, noungadgetry, noungargle, verbgas, nounglue, noungoggles, noungold card, noungranny knot, noungravel, noungravelled, adjectivegravelly, adjectivegrease, noungreetings card, noungrommet, noungum, noungun, noungunnysack, noungut, nounhand-held, adjectivehandle, nounhandloom, nounharness, nounhasp, nounhealth, nounhessian, nounhinge, nounhip, nounhoarding, nounhoist, nounholder, nounhook, nounhoop, nounhooter, nounhose, nounhosepipe, nounhub, nounhygiene, nounhygienic, adjectiveillness, nounindented, adjectiveinflatable, adjectiveingrained, adjectiveink, nouninn, nouninnkeeper, nouninsoluble, adjectiveivory, nounjacket, nounjack-knife, nounjoss stick, nounjuggle, verbkey, nounkeypad, nounkey ring, nounKleenex, nounknife, nounknob, nounlabel, nounladder, nounlantern, nounlatch, nounlatchkey, nounlather, nounlather, verbLCD, nounlead, nounlectern, nounlegal pad, nounlens, nounletterbox, nounlever, nounlibrary, nounlid, nounlidded, adjectivelift, nounlight, nounlight bulb, nounlink, nounlinseed oil, nounlitter bin, nounlock, nounlodestone, nounlog, nounloop, verblost property, nounmagnet, nounmagnetic, adjectivemagnifying glass, nounmale, adjectivemantle, nounmanual, adjectivemarker, nounmarker pen, nounmarket day, nounmast, nounmastic, nounmatchstick, nounmaterial, nounmeter, nounmeths, nounmode, nounmortar, nounmortise lock, nounmould, nounmounting, nounmovement, nounnail, nounnameplate, nounnet, nounnib, nounnipple, nounnon-standard, adjectivenoose, nounnotebook, nounnotepad, nounnoticeboard, nounnozzle, nounnut, nounoil, verboilcan, nounoily, adjectiveorb, nounoutfit, nounoutlet, nounovernight, adverbpack, verbpackage, nounpad, nounpad, verbpadlock, nounpaintwork, nounpantyliner, nounpaper, nounpaperclip, nounpasserby, nounpaste, verbpasteboard, nounpatron, nounpatronage, nounpatronize, verbpattern, nounpaving, nounpearl, nounpen, nounpenknife, nounpicket fence, nounpillbox, nounpince-nez, nounpinhead, nounpipe, nounpix, nounpizza parlor, nounplug, nounpocket, nounpocketbook, nounpocket calculator, nounpocket knife, nounpointer, nounpoison, nounpole, nounportfolio, nounPost-it, nounpowder, nounpowdered, adjectivepropellant, nounpropelling pencil, nounpump-action, adjectivePX, nounquarter, verbrack, nounreceptionist, nounreel, nounrefill, nounreflector, nounrefrigerate, verbregimen, nounreservation, nounreserve, verbsachet, nounsack, nounscratchpad, nounscratch paper, nounscreen, nounsealant, nounsealer, nounsearchlight, nounseason ticket, nounseat, nounself-assembly, adjectiveseptic tank, nounservice, nounservice, verbsetting, nounshade, nounsharpener, nounshovel, nounshovel, verbshovelful, nounsilver paper, nounsiphon, nounslat, nounslice, verbslot machine, nounslug, nounsmoke, nounsoot, nounsort, nounspare part, nounspigot, nounsponge, nounspool, nounspout, nounspray, nounspray can, nounspray paint, nounspring, nounstaff, nounstake, nounstalk, nounstandard, nounstaple, nounstapler, nounstationery, nounsteam, nounsteam clean, verbsteel, nounsteel wool, nounstepladder, nounstick, verbstick, nounsticker, nounstilt, nounstopper, nounstorm lantern, nounstrap, nounstreamer, nounstring, nounstub, nounsucker, nounSuperglue, nounswipe, verbswitch, nounswivel, nountab, nountack, nountag, nountag, verbtank, nountap, nountape, nountassel, nountattle, verbtea break, nounthong, nounthread, nountime-saving, adjectivetinder, nountinderbox, nountissue, nountop, nountote bag, nountowel, verbtray, nountrolley, nountube, nountubing, nountwine, nountwo-way mirror, nounumbrella, nounvent, nounvial, nounwaiting room, nounwasher, nounwaste paper, nounwatch, nounwaterspout, nounwheeled, adjectivewhistle, verbwooden, adjectivewriting paper, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs
a case of salmonella poisoningCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
1[countable, uncountable] a substance that can cause death or serious illness if you eat it, drink it etc: · He committed suicide by taking poison.
· She admitted two charges of giving poison to her daughter.
formal (=give it to someone)· He could not have administered the poison that had put Mark in a coma.
· She put poison in his wine.
(=put poison in something)· He laced the emperor's tea with poison.
(=put it somewhere to kill an animal)· One way of getting rid of rats or mice is to put poison down.
adjectives· The berries contain a deadly poison.
· Cyanide is a very strong, quick-acting poison.
(=one that makes someone very ill or kills them)· Scorpions produce a virulent poison.
phrases (=an amount of poison)· He had taken a massive dose of poison.
(=a small amount of poison that is still present somewhere)· Traces of the poison were found in the family car.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES a case of salmonella poisoning· Cadmium, a deadly poison, exceeded the safe limit by seven times; arsenic by 20 times.· Warnings of blowfish, which contain deadly poisons in their livers, came to mind.· Many of the exotic fruits may provide a wonderful meal for the traveller, but some contain a deadly poison.· Poison cure for wrinkles A DEADLY poison which causes botulism can make people look younger.· Castor oil comes from the bean but so does a powerful skin irritant, and a deadly poison called ricin.· For good measure, some varieties contain the deadly poison tetrodotoxin.
NOUN· It's a land where doom hangs upon the air like poison gas.· At the time, however, I feared poison gas.· There was fear of poison gas, in a nation where Zyklon-B was part of the collective memory.· Bombs and poison gas would rain down on undefended cities.· If this emission takes place it triggers the breaking of a vial of poison gas which instantaneously kills the cat.· A heavy overcast like a poison gas cloud was stationary over the battered city.· Whether it's against poison gas or pollution or radiation he can't say.
· Even then you'd be a weed or poison ivy.· A thin waxy slip of poison ivy was entwined around one of the legs.· What is the poison ivy that so jealously guards our dark fortress?· The back of his knee itched from poison ivy.· Garnish with a fruit and a sprig of poison ivy.
· There were casualties: One soldier burned out his chain saw; another got poison oak.· Fire officials said bee stings and poison oak were the most serious problems.
· Until this business of the poison pen letter is solved, you need to get away from this house.· They had a poison pen in the works.· This wasn't just about poison pen letters, and bringing her here for her own safety.· Instead he had found the poison pen letter that she intended to send to Jessamy.· Harriet Vane returns to her college for the occasion and finds herself in a maelstrom of obscene graffiti and poison pen letters.· And she didn't think that it was totally connected with the arrival of that poison pen letter this morning.· He had the feeling that Berowne was in some trouble deeper and more subtly disturbing than poison pen messages.· It had started with the arrival of that poison pen letter, and ended with that kiss.
· And a firm's environmental history has emerged as another potential poison pill no-one wants to swallow.· On Wednesday, they threatened to withdraw support for a minimum wage boost if the so-called poison pill amendment passed.· There were white knights and poison pills, Pac-Man defences and unbundling.· Most notably, it bans firms from frustrating a bidder by crippling themselves with debt or swallowing poison pills.· Mackenzie put a poison pill into place, which gave the company 60 days to find another suitor.
· He said he only wanted to kill himself and claimed he ate rat poison and planned to inhale car exhaust fumes.· Somewhere in Ohio a doctor has been jailed for feeding rat poison to his colleagues.· The rat poison and insecticide was taken from a van at Farm lane in Crawley near Witney.· Gullible hadn't been driving a great big lorry around the place and putting down rat poison.· Just himself and Eloise, a cleaver, a gun, a spoonful of rat poison.· Edinburgh Sheriff Court had heard that the boys bought the rat poison from Boots, and offered to cook dinner.· Underneath the sink he found a large tin of rat poison.· He would go down into the cellar tomorrow and put down some rat poison.
VERB· Many of the exotic fruits may provide a wonderful meal for the traveller, but some contain a deadly poison.· Warnings of blowfish, which contain deadly poisons in their livers, came to mind.· The wings of the monarch butterfly, for example, contain powerful heart-stopping poisons called cardiac glycosides.· Its thirteen powerful dorsal spines contain enough poison to kill any human swimmer who accidentally treads on it with a bare foot.· For good measure, some varieties contain the deadly poison tetrodotoxin.
· Its thirteen powerful dorsal spines contain enough poison to kill any human swimmer who accidentally treads on it with a bare foot.· One ten thousandth of a gram of their poison is enough to kill a man.· If this emission takes place it triggers the breaking of a vial of poison gas which instantaneously kills the cat.
· Rather than face the shame of interrogation, the Phoenix King took poison.· The Gamester also ended tragically when Beverly, a gambler, falsely accused of murder, committed suicide by taking poison.· The defence claimed Mrs Armstrong could have taken the poison herself and committed suicide.· Or will he be brave enough to take a dose of poison at the last moment?· It did not take burglars and curious poisons to dispose of him.· Like taking poison on the border.· The man was going to be hung, only he took poison first.
· They use special poison bait holders called hoppers.· However, when fighting against another rattlesnake it does not use its poison fangs.· Extracts from the croton have been used as fish poisons.
Belladonna and red arsenic are deadly poisons. a box of rat poison (=poison to kill rats) He swallowed some type of poison.2[countable] something such as an emotion or idea that makes you behave badly or become very unhappy: Hatred is a poison that will destroy your life.3what’s your poison? old-fashioned spoken a humorous way of asking which alcoholic drink someone would like → one man’s meat is another man’s poison at meat(4)COLLOCATIONSverbstake/swallow poison· He committed suicide by taking poison.give somebody poison· She admitted two charges of giving poison to her daughter.administer poison formal (=give it to someone)· He could not have administered the poison that had put Mark in a coma.put poison in something· She put poison in his wine.lace something with poison (=put poison in something)· He laced the emperor's tea with poison.put poison down (=put it somewhere to kill an animal)· One way of getting rid of rats or mice is to put poison down.adjectivesa deadly poison· The berries contain a deadly poison.a slow-acting/quick-acting poison· Cyanide is a very strong, quick-acting poison.a virulent poison (=one that makes someone very ill or kills them)· Scorpions produce a virulent poison.phrasesa dose of poison (=an amount of poison)· He had taken a massive dose of poison.a trace of poison (=a small amount of poison that is still present somewhere)· Traces of the poison were found in the family car.poison1 nounpoison2 verb
poisonpoison2 ●○○ verb [transitive] VERB TABLE
poison
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | poison |
| he, she, it | poisons | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | poisoned |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have poisoned |
| he, she, it | has poisoned | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had poisoned |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will poison |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have poisoned |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am poisoning |
| he, she, it | is poisoning | |
| you, we, they | are poisoning | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was poisoning |
| you, we, they | were poisoning | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been poisoning |
| he, she, it | has been poisoning | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been poisoning |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be poisoning |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been poisoning |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A small amount of lead paint can severely poison a child.
- Chemical waste has poisoned the city's water supply.
- For over a year, Jane fought against the cancer that had poisoned her blood.
- He believed that somebody was trying to poison him.
- Hill poisoned her husband and daughter for the insurance money.
- Kendall believes that sex on TV is poisoning our children's minds.
- Our marriage was poisoned by mistrust, deceit and jealousy.
- Seabirds are being poisoned by toxins in the water.
- She had already poisoned three members of her own family with arsenic.
- Steven thought that someone had poisoned his food.
- He sacrificed the end, doubtful in any case at that time, be-cause bad means would poison it.
- In a short time, his appointment has come to look like a poisoned chalice.
- It ventured forth only to kill cattle or flatten crops, poisoning the air with its fetid breath.
- She plotted a new method to kill Snow White: with a poisoned comb.
- The yeast must be pure, or the stars would be poisoned.
- When they toasted, she exchanged her cup for his, and he drained the poisoned wine.
THESAURUS
to have a bad effect on something so that it is much less attractive, enjoyable etc: · New housing developments are spoiling the countryside.· The bad weather completely spoiled our holiday.
to spoil something completely and permanently: · Using harsh soap to wash your face can ruin your skin.· The argument ruined the evening for me.
written to spoil something by making it less attractive or enjoyable: · His handsome Arab features were marred by a long scar across his face.· Outbreaks of fighting marred the New Year celebrations.
to slightly spoil something that is generally very good, beautiful, or impressive: · The huge number of tourists rather detracts from the city’s appeal.· There were a few minor irritations, but this did not detract from our enjoyment of the holiday.
to spoil something that you have been trying to achieve: · The bombings undermined several months of careful negotiations.
to spoil a friendly relationship between people or countries: · The affair has soured relations between the UK and Russia.
to spoil a close relationship completely, so that people can no longer trust each other: · Their marriage was poisoned by a terrible dark secret.
informal to spoil something important or something that has been carefully planned: · If there’s any delay, it will mess up our whole schedule.
Longman Language Activatorto kill someone to make someone die, especially deliberately or violently: · He claims that he didn't mean to kill his wife.· The police believe the man may kill again.· What the hell were you doing! You could have killed me!· Official sources say that 20 people were killed in last night's air raids.· My sixteen-year-old son Louis was killed by a drunk driver two years ago.
to deliberately kill someone, especially after planning to do it: · Wilson is accused of murdering his daughter and her boyfriend.· One of the country's top judges has been murdered by the Mafia.
to murder an important or famous person, especially for political reasons: · President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.· an attempt to assassinate the Pope
to kill someone by beating them, kicking them, or attacking them with a knife: · The court heard how the man was beaten to death by racist thugs.· A social worker was found stabbed to death in her office last night.· Smith had apparently been kicked to death.
to kill someone by putting a very harmful substance in their food or drink: · He believed that somebody was trying to poison him.· She had already poisoned three members of her own family with arsenic.
to kill someone by holding their face under water for a long time: · He accused his brother of trying to drown him.
to kill someone by pressing on their throat with both hands or with something such as a piece of string so that they cannot breathe: · Police said that the victim had been strangled.· He slid his hands around her neck and tried to strangle her.
informal to kill someone - often used humorously: bump off somebody/bump somebody off: · He kept marrying rich women and then bumping them off.have somebody bumped off (=arrange for someone to be killed): · His uncle decided to have him bumped off.
informal to kill someone, especially because they are a threat or their death would be convenient: · Perhaps his wife had taken the opportunity to do away with her rival.
to spoil a relationship or friendship · His jealousy spoiled their relationship, and she left him after a few months.· The assassination attempt has definitely spoilt the previously positive atmosphere between the opposing parties.
to spoil a friendly relationship between people, especially when this happens gradually: · The affair did not seem to have soured their friendship.· The global trend towards higher taxation on fuel consumption is souring relations with leading oil-producing states.· The incident was serious enough to sour the atmosphere for weeks.
to spoil a relationship, especially a close one, by causing a situation in which people can no longer trust each other: · Our marriage was poisoned by mistrust, deceit and jealousy.
to completely spoil a relationship or friendship: · I don't want this to destroy our friendship.· Her feelings of self-doubt had destroyed every relationship that she had ever had.
WORD SETSacid rain, nounbiohazard, nounbottle bank, nouncatalytic converter, nounclean-up, nounconservancy, nounconservation, nounconservation area, nounconservationist, nounconserve, verbcontaminant, nouncontaminate, verbeco-, prefixeco-friendly, adjectiveecological, adjectiveecologist, nounecology, nounecosystem, nouneffluent, nounenvironmental, adjectiveenvironmentalist, nounenvironmentally friendly, adjectiveglobal warming, noungreen, verbgreenhouse effect, noungreenhouse gas, noungreen revolution, nounhabitat, nounnational park, nounnoise pollution, nounozone, nounozone-friendly, adjectiveparticulates, nounpoison, verbpollute, verbradioactive waste, nounradioactivity, nounrecyclable, adjectiverecycle, verbrecycling, nounreforestation, nounsewage, nounsewage works, nounsmog, nounsulphur dioxide, nountip, nountoxic waste, nounwaste disposal, nounwaste product, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Television violence is poisoning the minds of young people.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES a case of salmonella poisoningCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
1to give someone poison, especially by adding it to their food or drink, in order to harm or kill them: Television violence is poisoning the minds of young people. a case of salmonella poisoning· I didn't have time to get paranoid about blood poisoning as my heart suddenly stopped beating.· A report from a consultant pathologist said the cause of Mrs Colbert's death was blood poisoning due to burns.
· Usually the organism is helpful, but some strains have been incriminated in widespread cases of food poisoning and even of meningitis.· The drumbeat of the Gingrich case had poisoned the atmosphere in the House for weeks.· There were 118 reported cases of food poisoning in Uttlesford last year.· The death is the first confirmed case of poisoning of a kite in Yorkshire but follows similar cases elsewhere.
· Very few food poisoning bacteria grow if they are colder than 5°C and they are killed if heated above 63°C.· But you and I always will be the final defense against food poisoning for ourselves, our families and our friends.· Food producers do their best to make sure that food is not contaminated with any food poisoning organisms.· I told her you had a nasty case of stomach flu and the doctor thought it was probably food poisoning.· Our Gillian got terrible food poisoning off strange tablet at a Garden Fete once.· A touch of food poisoning. said Heloise to Abelard.· Some 640 people suffered illness as a result of food poisoning in the outbreak.· Four years ago, Johnson contracted food poisoning prior to the Olympics, the illness sapping his strength and ruining his conditioning.
· Swans suffer from lead poisoning that comes from anglers' weights.· Some historians consider lead poisoning a major cause of the fall of the Roman Empire.· There was the woman whose daughter was exhibiting signs of lead poisoning.
· I blame myself for looking on and allowing you to poison their minds.· Well, it takes a poisoner to introduce the poisoned mind to manhood.· He knows his ex-wife is poisoning the boy's mind.· The alien contamination has poisoned his mind.
· The woman, it seems, has cut eggs from her diet for fear of possible salmonella poisoning.· She said that it was possible to contract salmonella poisoning and hepatitis from the clams, but no cases had been documented.
· The prime minister, Pascoal Mocumbi, said the cause may have been food poisoning, lack of water, or suffocation.· Nicasio gave Cecilia poisoned water, believing she would reveal his perfidious acts.· Fumigation will also poison water, food and soil.· I don't know if any of them could be bribed to poison the water.· The Myndie Snake would find them and drip venom upon them, poisoning the water and burning them where they hid.· Led by a madman, the humans have been poisoning the water supply.
· They had been drinking out of poisoned wells for days.
VERB· More people now die of pesticide poisoning in Sri Lanka than from certain important diseases, including malaria.· A postmortem examination report showed he died from poisoning by carbon monoxide due to inhalation of fumes.· I then expect I will be tortured, and if they see I don't die they will poison me.
· No soldiers showed clear symptoms of gas poisoning.
· Yes, I am always hopelessly trying to poison myself against her.· Maybe that was why he was trying to poison Elinor?· For a moment he could not quite think why he was trying to poison Elinor.· Slowly and deliberately, Fagin was trying to poison the young boy's mind.
She was accused in 1974 of poisoning her second husband, Charles. He killed several people by poisoning their tea.poison somebody with something Helms attempted to poison his whole family with strychnine.2if a substance poisons someone, it makes them sick or kills them: Thousands of children were poisoned by radiation.3to make land, rivers, air etc dirty and dangerous, especially by the use of harmful chemicals: Pesticides are poisoning our rivers.4to have very harmful and unpleasant effects on someone’s mind, emotions, or a situation: Her childhood had been poisoned by an abusive stepfather. The law will only serve to poison relations between the US and Mexico. Television violence is poisoning the minds of young people.► see thesaurus at spoil5poisoned chalice an important job that someone is given, which is likely to cause them a lot of trouble—poisoner noun [countable]- multi-faith
- multifarious
- multifocal
- multifocals
- multifunction
- multilateral
- multilingual
- multilingualism
- multimedia
- multimedia messaging
- multimillion
- multimillionaire
- multinational
- multiparty
- multi-platform
- multi-player gaming
- multiple
- multiple birth
- multiple choice
- multiple personality
- multiple sclerosis
- multiple store
- multiplex
- multiplexer
- multiplexing