Curare
/kjʊˈɹɑː.ɹi/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A plant, Strychnos toxifera, formerly used in arrow poisons in South America due to its D-tubocurarine content. uncountable, usually
- 2 a toxic alkaloid found in certain tropical South American trees that is a powerful relaxant for striated muscles wordnet
- 3 Other South American plants with similar toxins that were also used in arrow poisons, mostly in the family Menispermaceae. uncountable, usually
- 4 A substance containing the alkaloid D-tubocurarine, used historically as a muscle relaxant during surgery. uncountable, usually
Etymology
From a Cariban language; compare Kari'na urari, Trió urari, wïrari, Akawaio urari, Pemon urari, Macushi urari, referring to various vines of genus Strychnos.