toxic
[ tok-sik ]
/ ˈtɒk sɪk /
adjective
of, pertaining to, affected with, or caused by a toxin or poison: a toxic condition.
acting as or having the effect of a poison; poisonous: a toxic drug.
causing unpleasant feelings; harmful or malicious: a toxic boyfriend; toxic criticism.
pertaining to or noting debt that will probably not be repaid: toxic mortgages.
pertaining to or noting a financial instrument or other asset that has no value or an unknown value because there is no market for it: toxic mortgage-backed securities.
noun
a toxic chemical or other substance.
Origin of toxic
1655–65; < Late Latin
toxicus poisonous, adj. derivative of Latin
toxicum poison < Greek
toxikón (orig. short for
toxikòn phármakon literally, bow poison, i.e., poison used on arrows), equivalent to
tóx(on) bow +
-ikon, neuter of
-ikos
-ic
OTHER WORDS FROM toxic
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH toxic
toxic toxinWords nearby toxic
Example sentences from the Web for toxic
British Dictionary definitions for toxic
toxic
/ (ˈtɒksɪk) /
adjective
of, relating to, or caused by a toxin or poison; poisonous
harmful or deadly
(of a financial asset) likely to cause significant loss to the holder
Derived forms of toxic
toxically, adverbWord Origin for toxic
C17: from medical Latin
toxicus, from Latin
toxicum poison, from Greek
toxikon (
pharmakon) (poison) used on arrows, from
toxon arrow
Medical definitions for toxic
toxic
[ tŏk′sĭk ]
adj.
Of, relating to, or caused by a toxin or other poison.
Capable of causing injury or death, especially by chemical means; poisonous.
n.
A toxic chemical or other substance.
Scientific definitions for toxic
toxic
[ tŏk′sĭk ]
Relating to or caused by a toxin.
Capable of causing injury or death, especially by chemical means; poisonous.