English Explanatory Dictionary

venom

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An animal toxin intended for defensive or offensive use; a biological poison delivered by bite, sting, etc., to protect an animal or to kill its prey.
  2. Feeling or speech marked by spite or malice; vitriol.
verb
  1. To infect with venom; to envenom; to poison.
adj
  1. Poisonous, poisoned; (figuratively) pernicious.

Pronunciation

/ˈvɛnəm/ en-us-venom.ogg

Word forms

venom venoms venoming venomed

Etymology

From Middle English venym, from Old French venim, from Vulgar Latin *venīmen, from Early Medieval Latin venīnum, from Classical Latin venēnum (“drug; poison; a charm”), ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European *wenh₁- (“to love”). Doublet of venin and venene.

Synonyms

venene venin atter zootoxin

Derived words

antivenom antivenomics antivenomous dilute Russell's viper venom time envenom envenomate envenomation envenomization nonvenomous outvenom Russell's viper venom clotting time Russell's viper venom time spit venom venomic venomics venomization venomless venomlike venomosalivary venomosity venomous venomously venomousness venomsome venomer
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