n.
Pronunciation: ' täk-sik
Function: adjective
Etymology: Late Latin toxicus, from Latin toxicum poison, from Greek toxikon arrow poison, from neuter of toxikos of a bow, from toxon bow, arrow
Date: 1664
1 : containing or being poisonous material especially when capable of causing death or serious debilitation < toxic waste> <a toxic radioactive gas> <an insecticide highly toxic to birds>
2 : exhibiting symptoms of infection or toxicosis <the patient became toxic two days later>
3 : extremely harsh, malicious, or harmful < toxic sarcasm>
– tox · ic · i · ty \ täk- ' si-s ə -t ē \ noun