poisonous

[ poi-zuh-nuh s ]
/ ˈpɔɪ zə nəs /

adjective

full of or containing poison: poisonous air; a poisonous substance.
harmful; destructive: poisonous to animals; poisonous rumors.
deeply malicious; malevolent: poisonous efforts.

Origin of poisonous

First recorded in 1565–75; poison + -ous

OTHER WORDS FROM poisonous

Example sentences from the Web for nonpoisonous

  • Her second-stage rockets were also of the nonpoisonous variety, because she fired them at a bare 60,000 feet.

    Space Tug |Murray Leinster
  • Several species of nonpoisonous snakes were more common but were nowhere really abundant.

    Camps and Trails in China |Roy Chapman Andrews and Yvette Borup Andrews
  • (e) The poisonous portions are not distinguishable from the nonpoisonous, either macroscopically or microscopically.

British Dictionary definitions for nonpoisonous (1 of 2)

nonpoisonous
/ (nɒnˈpɔɪzənəs) /

adjective

not having the effects or qualities of a poison

British Dictionary definitions for nonpoisonous (2 of 2)

poisonous
/ (ˈpɔɪzənəs) /

adjective

having the effects or qualities of a poison
capable of killing or inflicting injury; venomous
corruptive or malicious

Derived forms of poisonous

poisonously, adverb poisonousness, noun

Medical definitions for nonpoisonous

poisonous
[ poizə-nəs ]

adj.

Relating to or caused by a poison.