First Known Use: 1664
Dictionary
1toxic
adjective tox·ic \ˈtäk-sik\
: containing poisonous substances
Full Definition of TOXIC
1
: containing or being poisonous material especially when capable of causing death or serious debilitation <toxic waste> <a toxic radioactive gas> <an insecticide highly toxic to birds>
2
: exhibiting symptoms of infection or toxicosis <the patient became toxic two days later>
3
: extremely harsh, malicious, or harmful <toxic sarcasm>
4
: relating to or being an asset that has lost so much value that it cannot be sold on the market
— tox·ic·i·ty \täk-ˈsi-sə-tē\ noun
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Origin of TOXIC
Late Latin toxicus, from Latin toxicum poison, from Greek toxikon arrow poison, from neuter of toxikos of a bow, from toxon bow, arrow
Related to TOXIC
- Antonyms
- nonpoisonous, nontoxic, nonvenomous
Other Biology Terms
2toxic
noun
Definition of TOXIC
: a toxic substance —usually used in plural
First Known Use of TOXIC
1890
TOXIC Defined for Kids
toxic
adjective tox·ic \ˈtäk-sik\
Definition of TOXIC for Kids
: containing, being, or caused by poisonous or dangerous material <toxic waste> <toxic effects>
Word History of TOXIC
Sometimes people put poison on the points of arrows. Even a slight wound from such an arrow can be fatal. The ancient Greeks referred to arrow poison as toxikon, short for toxikon pharmakon, literally, “bow drug” (from toxos, “bow”). As Latin toxicum, the word was applied more generally to any poison. The English word toxic comes from this Latin word.
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