What does "belladonna" mean?
A plant, Atropa belladonna, having purple bell-shaped flowers and poisonous black glossy berries.
Belladonna
/ˌbɛləˈdɑnə/ name, noun
name, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A plant, Atropa belladonna, having purple bell-shaped flowers and poisonous black glossy berries.
- Grammar: belladonna is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: deadly nightshade, alcohol, alkaloidal, anticholinergic drug.
- Useful contrasts: edible plant, nonbelladonna, nonmedicinal compound.
- Usage evidence: Roman women would dilate their pupils with belladonna because they believed this made them more attractive. Eye doctors still use belladonna during eye exams.
How to use "belladonna"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "belladonna" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "belladonna" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "belladonna" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A plant, Atropa belladonna, having purple bell-shaped flowers and poisonous black glossy berries. countable, uncountable
"Witches always anointed themselves with ointments before departing up the chimney to their Sabbaths. One such ointment was composed of Aconite, Belladonna, Water Parsley, Cinquefoil and Babies' Fat."
- 2 an alkaloidal extract or tincture of the poisonous belladonna plant that is used medicinally wordnet
- 3 An alkaloid extracted from this plant, sometimes used medicinally, containing atropine. countable, uncountable
"The elderly women who practiced herbalism and administered belladonna (a pain killer) to pregnant women were apt to be accused of witchcraft. The Medieval church was against the administration of belladonna because they believed women were meant to suffer pain in childbirth as a result of Eve's sin."
- 4 perennial Eurasian herb with reddish bell-shaped flowers and shining black berries; extensively grown in United States; roots and leaves yield atropine wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A female given name. uncommon
"Oliver summed up his observations by conceding that in the early nineteen twenties before he — or, for that matter, she herself was born — Belladonna Jones might have been devastating."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Roman women would dilate their pupils with belladonna because they believed this made them more attractive. Eye doctors still use belladonna during eye exams."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "belladonna"?
Common synonyms include: deadly nightshade, alcohol, alkaloidal, anticholinergic drug, atropa belladonna, atropine source.
How do you use "belladonna" in a sentence?
Roman women would dilate their pupils with belladonna because they believed this made them more attractive. Eye doctors still use belladonna during eye exams.
How do you pronounce "belladonna"?
Pronounced /ˌbɛləˈdɑnə/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Borrowed from Italian belladonna (altered by folk etymology: bella donna (“beautiful lady”)) from Medieval Latin blādōna (“nightshade”), of Gaulish origin. The folk etymology was motivated by the cosmetic use of nightshade for dilating the eyes.
Etymology 2
See belladonna.