urushiol
[ oo-roo-shee-awl, -ol ]
/ ʊˈru ʃiˌɔl, -ˌɒl /
noun
a toxic, liquid, catechol derivative, the active irritant principle in several species of the plant genus Rhus, as in poison ivy.
Origin of urushiol
1910–15; < Japanese
urushi lacquer +
-ol1
Words nearby urushiol
British Dictionary definitions for urushiol
urushiol
/ (ˈuːrʊʃɪˌɒl, uːˈruː-) /
noun
a poisonous pale yellow liquid occurring in poison ivy and the lacquer tree
Word Origin for urushiol
from Japanese
urushi lacquer +
-ol ²
Medical definitions for urushiol
urushiol
[ u-rōō′shē-ôl′, -ōl′ ]
n.
A toxic substance constituting the active allergen of the irritant oil present in poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac.
Scientific definitions for urushiol
urushiol
[ u-rōō′shē-ôl′, -ōl′ ]
A toxic substance present in the resin or on the surface of plants of the genus Rhus (syn. Toxicodendron). Urushiol is a mixture of several derivatives of catechol and is the irritating substance in poison ivy.