cu·ra·re also cu·ra·ri 
(k-rärē, ky-)
(k-rärē, ky-)n.
1. A dark resinous extract obtained from several tropical American woody plants, especially Chondrodendron tomentosum or certain species of Strychnos, used as an arrow poison by some Indian peoples of South America.
2.
a. Any of several purified preparations of such an extract, used formerly as a drug to relax skeletal muscles during anesthesia.
b. The drug tubocurarine.
3. Any of the plants that yield curare.
[Portuguese or Spanish curaré, both of Cariban and Tupian origin.]