k(y)üˈrärē noun
or cu·ra·ra -ärə
( -s )
Etymology: Portuguese & Spanish curare, from Carib kurari
1. : any of certain complex arrow poisons of So. American Indians that have a paralytic action, include varied plant and animal ingredients, and usually depend for their effectiveness on aqueous extracts of plants of the genus Strychnos (especially S. toxifera )
2. : a dried aqueous extract of the woody vine ( Strychnos toxifera ) or of certain closely related plants that is rich in alkaloids which act on the neuromuscular junction of skeletal muscle or on cardiac muscle producing paralysis — see calabash curare
3. : a purified extract of a So. American menispermaceous vine ( Chondodendron tomentosum ) that is used medicinally to produce muscular relaxation during shock therapy for certain mental diseases and as an adjunct to anesthesia in surgery — called also tube curare ; see tubocurarine