poisonous

CEFRB1

/ˈpɔɪzənəs/

adjective

Türkçe translations

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In plain English

Examples

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Also pronounced

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Extra meanings

Of an animal such as a snake or spider, or parts of its body: producing a toxin intended for defensive or offensive use which is usually injected into an enemy or prey by biting or stinging; hence, of a bite or sting: injecting poison.
Containing sufficient poison to be dangerous to touch or ingest.

In context

While highly poisonous to dogs, this substance is completely harmless if ingested by humans.
Some snakes are poisonous.
Nor taint-worm ſhall infect the yeaning herds / Nor penny-graſs, nor ſpearwort's poiſ'nous leaf.

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The word in print, with each source given in full.

Nor taint-worm ſhall infect the yeaning herds / Nor penny-graſs, nor ſpearwort's poiſ'nous leaf.
1757, John Dyer, “Book I”, in The Fleece: A Poem […] , London: R. and J. Dodsley, page 40
I had picked a mushroom so poisonous that particles of it, stuck to my fingers and accidentally swallowed, could have made me deathly ill, and a piece the size of my thumb could have killed me.
2003, Charles L. Fergus, Common Edible and Poisonous Mushrooms of the Northeast, Stackpole Books, →ISBN, page 77
He didn't want to end up like his grandfather, bitter and intractable, consumed in his hatred like an addict on haze — a poisonous attitude that would possess him all his remaining years.
2013, Kylie Griffin, Allegiance Sworn, Penguin, →ISBN
The Cencoatl (o), which is alſo a poiſonous ſnake, is about five feet long, and eight inches round at the thickeſt part.
1787, F.S. Clavigero, The History of Mexico, London: G. G. J. and J. Robinson, page 60
The characteristics which separate the dangerously venomous groups from their non-poisonous relatives are emphasized.
1963, United States. Navy Department. Naval Operations Office, Poisonous Snakes of the World, U.S. Government Printing Office, page 29

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From Middle English poisounous, poysonouse. By surface analysis, poison + -ous.