Toxic
/ˈtɑk.sɪk/ adj
adj ·Moderate ·High school level
Definitions
Adjective
- 1 Having a chemical nature that is harmful to health or lethal if consumed or otherwise entering into the body in sufficient quantities.
"Tobacco smoke contains many toxic substances."
- 2 Appearing grossly unwell; characterised by serious, potentially life-threatening compromise in the respiratory, circulatory or other body systems.
"The child appeared toxic on arrival at the hospital."
- 3 Severely negative or harmful. figuratively
"a toxic environment that promoted bullying"
- 4 Of a person, hateful or strongly antipathetic. figuratively
"It is not good to be around toxic people."
Adjective
- 1 of or relating to or caused by a toxin or poison wordnet
Example
More examples"You shouldn't sleep with a coal stove on because it releases a very toxic gas called carbon monoxide. Sleeping with a coal stove running may result in death."
Etymology
Borrowed from French toxique, from Late Latin toxicus (“poisoned”), from Latin toxicum (“poison”), from Ancient Greek τοξικόν (toxikón) [φάρμακον (phármakon)] ("poison for use on arrows"), from τοξικός (toxikós, “pertaining to arrows or archery”), from τόξον (tóxon, “bow”).