Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense poisons, present participle poisoning, past tense, past participle poisoned
1. variable noun
Poison is a substance that harms or kills people or animals if they swallow it or absorb it.
Poison from the weaver fish causes paralysis, swelling, and nausea.
Mercury is a known poison.
Synonyms: toxin, venom, bane [archaic] More Synonyms of poison
2. verb
If someone poisons another person, they kill the person or make them ill by giving them poison.
The rumours that she had poisoned him could never be proved. [VERB noun]
poisoninguncountable noun
She was sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment for poisoning and attempted murder.
3. verb
If you are poisonedby a substance, it makes you very ill and sometimes kills you.
Employees were taken to hospital yesterday after being poisoned by fumes. [beVERB-ed + by]
Toxic waste could endanger lives and poison fish. [VERB noun]
poisoninguncountable noun
...mercury poisoning.
His illness was initially diagnosed as food poisoning.
4. verb
If someone poisons a food, drink, or weapon, they add poison to it so that it can be used to kill someone.
They considered poisoning his food. [VERB noun]
poisonedadjective
He was terrified to eat, suspecting that the food was poisoned.
...an umbrella tipped with a poisoned dart.
5. verb
To poison water, air, or land means to damage it with harmful substances such as chemicals.
...the textile and fibre industries that poison the water and use vast amounts ofnatural resources. [VERB noun]
The land has been completely poisoned by chemicals. [VERB noun]
...dying forests, poisoned rivers and lakes. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: contaminate, foul, infect, spoil More Synonyms of poison
6. verb
Something that poisons a good situation or relationship spoils it or destroys it.
The whole atmosphere has really been poisoned. [beVERB-ed]
...ill-feeling that will poison further talk of a common foreign policy. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: corrupt, colour, undermine, bias More Synonyms of poison
7.
See poison sb's mind
More Synonyms of poison
poison in British English
(ˈpɔɪzən)
noun
1.
any substance that can impair function, cause structural damage, or otherwise injure the body
▶ Related adjective: toxic
2.
something that destroys, corrupts, etc
the poison of fascism
3.
a substance that retards a chemical reaction or destroys or inhibits the activity of a catalyst
4.
a substance that absorbs neutrons in a nuclear reactor and thus slows down the reaction. It may be added deliberately or formed during fission
5. what's your poison?
verb(transitive)
6.
to give poison to (a person or animal) esp with intent to kill
7.
to add poison to
8.
to taint or infect with or as if with poison
9. (foll by against)
to turn (a person's mind) against
he poisoned her mind against me
10.
to retard or stop (a chemical or nuclear reaction) by the action of a poison
11.
to inhibit or destroy (the activity of a catalyst) by the action of a poison
Derived forms
poisoner (ˈpoisoner)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Old French puison potion, from Latin pōtiō a drink, esp a poisonous one, from pōtāre to drink
poison in American English
(ˈpɔɪzən)
noun
1.
a substance causing illness or death when eaten, drunk, or absorbed even in relatively small quantities
2.
anything harmful or destructive to happiness or welfare, such as an idea, emotion, etc.
3.
in a nuclear reactor, a substance, as boron, that readily absorbs thermal neutrons from a chain reaction, thereby decreasing the reactivity of a reactor core: it is used for safety or control
4. Chemistry
a substance that inhibits or destroys the activity of a catalyst, enzyme, etc. or that interferes with or checks a reaction
verb transitive
5.
to give poison to; harm or destroy by means of poison
6.
to put poison on or into
7.
to influence wrongfully; corrupt
to poison someone's mind
adjective
8.
poisonous or poisoned
Derived forms
poisoner (ˈpoisoner)
noun
Word origin
OFr < L potio, potion
More idioms containing
poison
one man's meat is another man's poison
Examples of 'poison' in a sentence
poison
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
It could leave millions defenceless against common illnesses such as food poisoning.
The Sun (2017)
Chicken has bacteria which can cause food poisoning.
The Sun (2017)
He thinks it causes food poisoning.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The trend of serving chicken livers rare is exposing the public to the risk of food poisoning, research suggests.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If you must buy bagged leaves, always wash them well to reduce the worst of the food poisoning risk.
The Sun (2017)
Other injuries included chemical poisoning.
The Sun (2016)
The tech giant will trawl anonymous confidential data to spot people at risk of kidney disease, blood poisoning and organ failure.
The Sun (2016)
This poisoning of young minds is a crime of major proportions.
The Sun (2014)
You might have a little touch of food poisoning.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She tried to kill him by poisoning him and considered more than one way of doing so.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Deaths from chemical poisoning alone exceeded a thousand.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
They can also cause a form of acute food poisoning if they are ingested.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The bacterium causes urinary infections but can also lead to blood poisoning.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The blue colour could be caused by poisoning.
The Sun (2011)
The potential for poisoning adds a certain nervous edge to the morning's foraging.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The concept is that worker ants take the bait back to the nest, thus poisoning the entire colony.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
poison
British English: poison /ˈpɔɪzn/ NOUN
Poison is a substance that harms or kills people or animals if they swallow or absorb it.
Mercury is a known poison.
American English: poison
Arabic: سُمّ
Brazilian Portuguese: veneno
Chinese: 毒药
Croatian: otrov
Czech: jed
Danish: gift
Dutch: vergif
European Spanish: veneno
Finnish: myrkky
French: poison
German: Gift
Greek: δηλητήριο
Italian: veleno
Japanese: 毒
Korean: 독 독소
Norwegian: gift
Polish: trucizna
European Portuguese: veneno
Romanian: otravă
Russian: яд
Latin American Spanish: veneno
Swedish: gift toxin
Thai: ยาพิษ
Turkish: zehir
Ukrainian: отрута
Vietnamese: thuốc độc
British English: poison /ˈpɔɪzn/ VERB
To poison someone or something means to give poison to them or to add poison to them, causing them harm.
There were rumours that she had poisoned him.
American English: poison
Arabic: يُسَمِّمُ
Brazilian Portuguese: envenenar
Chinese: 放毒
Croatian: otrovati
Czech: otrávit
Danish: forgifte
Dutch: vergiftigen
European Spanish: envenenar
Finnish: myrkyttää
French: empoisonner
German: vergiften
Greek: δηλητηριάζω
Italian: avvelenare
Japanese: 毒を盛る
Korean: 독을 넣다
Norwegian: forgifte
Polish: otruć
European Portuguese: envenenar
Romanian: a otrăvi
Russian: отравлять
Latin American Spanish: envenenar
Swedish: förgifta
Thai: วางยาพิษ
Turkish: zehirlemek
Ukrainian: труїти
Vietnamese: đầu độc
Translate your text for free
All related terms of 'poison'
poison fang
the long pointed hollow or grooved tooth of a venomous snake through which venom is injected
poison gas
Poison gas is a gas that is poisonous and is usually used to kill people in war or to execute criminals .
poison ivy
Poison ivy is a wild plant that grows in North America and that causes a rash or skin problems if you touch it.
poison oak
either of two North American anacardiaceous shrubs , Rhus toxicodendron or R . diversiloba, that are related to the poison ivy and cause a similar rash
poison-pen
designating or of an abusive letter written out of spite or malice , usually anonymously, to harass the recipient
poison pill
A poison pill refers to what some companies do to reduce their value in order to prevent themselves being taken over by another company.
rat poison
a substance used to poison rats
Durban poison
a particularly potent variety of cannabis grown in Natal
poison gland
a gland in some fish and amphibians that secretes venomous material
poison sumac
a swamp plant ( Rhus vernix ) of the cashew family, with greenish-white flowers, hanging clusters of small grayish fruit, and leaves made up of 7 to 13 leaflets : it can cause a severe rash on contact
poison sumach
an anacardiaceous swamp shrub, Rhus (or Toxicodendron ) vernix of the southeastern US, that has greenish-white berries and causes an itching rash on contact with the skin
neutron poison
a nonfissionable material used to absorb neutrons and thus to control nuclear reactions
poison dogwood
→ poison sumac
poison hemlock
→ hemlock (sense 1 )
poison-pen letter
A poison-pen letter is an unpleasant unsigned letter which is sent in order to upset someone or to cause trouble .
poison sb's mind
If someone poisons your mind against another person, they make you dislike that person, usually by telling you things that are not true.
what's your poison?
what would you like to drink ?
poisonwood
a poisonous tree
one man's meat is another man's poison
said to point out that different people like different things
hemlock
Hemlock is a poisonous plant.
hemlock spruce
an umbelliferous poisonous Eurasian plant, Conium maculatum, having finely divided leaves, spotted stems , and small white flowers
Chinese translation of 'poison'
poison
(ˈpɔɪzn)
n(c/u)
毒药(藥) (dúyào) (种(種), zhǒng)
vt
[person, animal]下毒 (xiàdú)
[relationship, atmosphere]毒害 (dúhài)
1 (noun)
Definition
a substance that causes death or injury when swallowed or absorbed
Poison from the weaver fish causes paralysis and swelling.
Synonyms
toxin
Tests showed increased levels of toxins in fish.
venom
snake handlers who grow immune to snake venom
bane (archaic)
2 (noun)
Definition
something that destroys or corrupts
the poison of crime and violence spreading through the city
Synonyms
contamination
Acid rain is responsible for the destruction of forests and the contamination of rivers and streams.
corruption
contagion
They have been reluctant to admit patients with the disease because of fears of contagion.
cancer
There's a cancer in the system.
virus
blight
the worst year of the potato blight
bane
malignancy
miasma
canker
The canker of anti-semitism is growing again in this country.
1 (verb)
There were rumours that she was poisoned.
Synonyms
give someone poison
murder
a thriller about two men who murder a third
kill
More than 200 people were killed in the disaster.
administer poison to
2 (verb)
Definition
to have a harmful or evil effect on
The land has been completely poisoned by chemicals.
Synonyms
contaminate
The fishing waters have been contaminated with toxic wastes.
foul
sea grass fouled with black tar
infect
The birds infect the milk.
spoil
pollute
beaches polluted by sewage pumped into the sea
blight
taint
Rancid oil will taint the flavour.
adulterate
envenom
befoul
3 (verb)
He accused them of poisoning his drink.
Synonyms
contaminate
lace
The prison guards' food was laced with sleeping pills.
spike
drinks spiked with tranquillizers
tamper with
doctor
He had administered the sedatives by doctoring the dog's food.
adulterate
The food had been adulterated to increase its weight.
put poison in
4 (verb)
Definition
to turn (a person's mind) against
ill-feeling that will poison further negotiations
Synonyms
corrupt
Cruelty depraves and corrupts.
colour
The attitude of parents colours the way their children behave.
undermine
bias
We mustn't allow it to bias our teaching.
sour
The experience, she says, has soured her.
pervert
He was accused of perverting the nation's youth.
warp
Their minds have been warped by their experiences.
taint
subvert
an attempt to subvert the electoral process
embitter
I will not let this experience embitter me.
deprave
material likely to deprave those who hear or read it
defile
jaundice
vitiate
His otherwise admirable character is vitiated by his pride.
envenom
(adjective)
a cloud of poison gas
Synonyms
poisonous
All parts of the yew tree are poisonous.
deadly
a deadly disease currently affecting dolphins
toxic
the cost of cleaning up toxic waste
lethal
a lethal dose of sleeping pills
venomous
The adder is Britain's only venomous snake.
related words
related adjectivetoxic
related phobiatoxiphobia
subject word lists
See Poisonous substances and gasesSee Types of poisoningSee Poisonous plants
Additional synonyms
in the sense of adulterate
Definition
to spoil something by adding inferior material
The food had been adulterated to increase its weight.
Synonyms
debase,
thin,
weaken,
corrupt,
deteriorate,
mix with,
contaminate,
devalue,
water down,
depreciate,
attenuate,
vitiate,
bastardize,
make impure
in the sense of bias
Definition
to cause to have a bias
We mustn't allow it to bias our teaching.
Synonyms
influence,
colour,
weight,
prejudice,
distort,
sway,
warp,
slant,
predispose
in the sense of blight
Definition
a fungus or insect that causes blight in plants
the worst year of the potato blight
Synonyms
disease,
plague,
pest,
fungus,
contamination,
mildew,
contagion,
infestation,
pestilence,
canker,
cancer
Synonyms of 'poison'
poison
Explore 'poison' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cancer
Definition
an evil influence that spreads dangerously
There's a cancer in the system.
Synonyms
evil,
corruption,
rot,
sickness,
blight,
pestilence,
canker
in the sense of canker
Definition
something evil that spreads and corrupts
The canker of anti-semitism is growing again in this country.
Synonyms
corruption,
disease,
cancer,
infection,
rot,
blight,
scourge,
corrosion,
bane
in the sense of colour
Definition
to influence or distort
The attitude of parents colours the way their children behave.
Synonyms
influence,
affect,
prejudice,
distort,
pervert,
taint,
slant
in the sense of contagion
Definition
a corrupting influence that tends to spread
They have been reluctant to admit patients with the disease because of fears of contagion.
Synonyms
contamination,
infection,
corruption,
pollution,
taint
in the sense of deadly
Definition
likely to cause death
a deadly disease currently affecting dolphins
Synonyms
lethal,
fatal,
deathly,
dangerous,
devastating,
destructive,
mortal,
murderous,
poisonous,
toxic,
malignant,
virulent,
pernicious (formal),
noxious,
venomous,
baleful,
death-dealing,
baneful
in the sense of deprave
material likely to deprave those who hear or read it
Synonyms
corrupt,
pervert,
degrade,
seduce,
subvert,
debase,
demoralize,
debauch,
brutalize,
lead astray,
vitiate
in the sense of doctor
Definition
to poison or drug (food or drink)
He had administered the sedatives by doctoring the dog's food.
Synonyms
add to,
spike,
cut,
mix something with something,
dilute,
water down,
adulterate
in the sense of embitter
I will not let this experience embitter me.
Synonyms
make bitter or resentful,
anger,
poison,
sour,
alienate,
disillusion,
antagonize,
disaffect,
envenom
in the sense of foul
Definition
to make dirty or polluted
sea grass fouled with black tar
Synonyms
dirty,
soil,
stain,
contaminate,
smear,
pollute,
taint,
sully,
defile,
besmirch,
smirch,
begrime,
besmear
in the sense of infect
Definition
to taint or contaminate
The birds infect the milk.
Synonyms
pollute,
dirty,
poison,
foul,
corrupt,
contaminate,
taint,
defile,
vitiate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of kill
Definition
to cause the death of (a person or animal)
More than 200 people were killed in the disaster.
Synonyms
slay,
murder,
execute,
slaughter,
destroy,
waste (informal),
do in (slang),
take out (slang),
massacre,
butcher,
wipe out (informal),
dispatch,
cut down,
erase,
assassinate,
eradicate,
whack (informal),
do away with,
blow away (slang, US),
obliterate,
knock off (slang),
liquidate,
decimate,
annihilate,
neutralize,
exterminate,
terminate (slang),
croak,
mow down,
take (someone's) life,
bump off (slang),
extirpate (archaic),
wipe from the face of the earth (informal)
in the sense of lace
Definition
to add a small amount of alcohol, a drug, or poison to (food or drink)
The prison guards' food was laced with sleeping pills.
Synonyms
mix,
drug,
doctor,
add to,
spike,
contaminate,
fortify,
adulterate
in the sense of lethal
Definition
capable of causing death
a lethal dose of sleeping pills
Synonyms
deadly,
terminal,
fatal,
deathly,
dangerous,
devastating,
destructive,
mortal,
murderous,
poisonous,
toxic,
virulent,
pernicious (formal),
noxious,
baneful
in the sense of murder
Definition
to kill someone intentionally and unlawfully
a thriller about two men who murder a third
Synonyms
kill,
massacre,
slaughter,
assassinate,
hit (slang),
destroy,
waste (informal),
do in (informal),
eliminate (slang),
take out (slang),
terminate (slang),
butcher,
dispatch,
slay,
blow away (slang, US),
bump off (slang),
rub out (US, slang),
take the life of,
do to death,
murk (slang)
in the sense of pervert
Definition
to debase
He was accused of perverting the nation's youth.
Synonyms
corrupt,
degrade,
subvert,
deprave,
debase (formal),
desecrate,
debauch,
lead astray
in the sense of pollute
Definition
to contaminate with poisonous or harmful substances
beaches polluted by sewage pumped into the sea
Synonyms
contaminate,
dirty,
mar,
poison,
soil,
foul,
infect,
spoil,
stain,
taint,
adulterate,
make filthy,
smirch,
befoul
in the sense of sour
Definition
to make or become less enjoyable or friendly
The experience, she says, has soured her.
Synonyms
embitter,
disenchant,
alienate,
envenom
in the sense of spike
Definition
to add alcohol to (a drink)
drinks spiked with tranquillizers
Synonyms
drug,
lace,
dope,
cut,
contaminate,
adulterate
in the sense of subvert
an attempt to subvert the electoral process
Synonyms
corrupt,
pervert,
deprave,
poison,
contaminate,
confound,
debase,
demoralize,
vitiate
in the sense of taint
Definition
to spoil or contaminate by an undesirable quality
Rancid oil will taint the flavour.
Synonyms
spoil,
ruin,
contaminate,
damage,
soil,
dirty,
poison,
foul,
infect,
stain,
corrupt,
smear,
muddy,
pollute,
blight,
tarnish,
blot,
blemish,
sully,
defile,
adulterate,
besmirch,
vitiate,
smirch
Additional synonyms
in the sense of toxic
Definition
caused by poison
the cost of cleaning up toxic waste
Synonyms
poisonous,
deadly,
lethal,
harmful,
pernicious (formal),
noxious,
septic,
pestilential,
baneful (archaic)
in the sense of venom
Definition
the poison that certain snakes and scorpions inject when they bite or sting
snake handlers who grow immune to snake venom
Synonyms
poison,
toxin,
bane
in the sense of venomous
The adder is Britain's only venomous snake.
Synonyms
poisonous,
poison,
toxic,
virulent,
noxious,
baneful (archaic),
envenomed,
mephitic
in the sense of vitiate
His otherwise admirable character is vitiated by his pride.
Synonyms
corrupt,
contaminate,
pollute,
pervert,
blight,
taint,
sully,
deprave,
debase,
defile
in the sense of warp
Definition
to distort or influence in a negative way
Their minds have been warped by their experiences.