/ ˈpɔɪzn; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun [ C , U ]
1.
a substance that causes death or harm if it is swallowed or absorbed into the body :
Some mushrooms contain a deadly poison.
How did he die? Was it poison?
The dog was killed by rat poison (= poison intended to kill rats ) .
to hunt with poison arrows
bombs containing poison gas
2.
an idea, a feeling, etc. that is extremely harmful :
the poison of racial hatred
•
IDIOMS
- what's your poison?
—more at man noun
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
poison sb (with sth) to harm or kill a person or an animal by giving them poison
2.
to put poison in or on sth :
a poisoned arrow
Someone had been poisoning his food.
Large sections of the river have been poisoned by toxic waste from factories.
3.
to have a bad effect on sth :
His comment served only to poison the atmosphere still further.
She succeeded in poisoning their minds against me.
•
IDIOMS
- a poisoned chalice
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (denoting a harmful medicinal draught): from Old French poison magic potion, from Latin potio(n-) potion, related to potare to drink.