poisonouspoi‧son‧ous /ˈpɔɪzənəs/ ●●○ adjective 
Some mushrooms are extremely poisonous. poisonous gases such as hydrogen sulfide poisonous substances She was bitten on the ankle by a poisonous snake.poisonous to The berries are poisonous to birds.2full of bad and unfriendly feelings: the poisonous atmosphere of the office3British English someone who is poisonous seems to get pleasure from causing arguments, unhappiness etc: That poisonous bastard Lucett told Morris I was seeing his wife.—poisonously adverbTHESAURUSpoisonous containing or producing a substance that is likely to kill you, or make you very ill: · poisonous gas· poisonous snakes· The plant is poisonous to humans and animals.toxic toxic chemicals and waste are poisonous to people and the environment: · Crops were sprayed with highly toxic chemicals.· Lead is toxic to humans.· The site was used for the disposal of toxic waste.noxious [usually before noun] formal noxious substances and gases are poisonous: · Vehicles pollute the air with noxious fumes· The soil may be contaminated with noxious substances.hazardous [usually before noun] hazardous substances are likely to harm people, animals, or the environment if they are not dealt with or got rid of carefully: · Lead is one of the most hazardous substances known, causing cancer and nerve damage.· The building is now unoccupied, and all radioactive or hazardous materials have been removed.· hazardous nuclear wastedeadly extremely poisonous and likely to kill you – used especially about poisons and snakes: · a deadly poison· a deadly snake· Terrorists plotted to release a deadly gas.COLLOCATIONS CHECKpoisonous gas/substance/chemical/snake/insect/planttoxic chemical/substance/wastenoxious substance/gas/fumeshazardous waste/material/chemicaldeadly poison/snake/gas/virus/disease
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- poisonous snakes
- Carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous gas, mostly produced by cars.
- Citizens demanded that the mayor apologize for his poisonous racist comments.
- Don't drink that -- it's poisonous!
- Many of our rivers are full of poisonous chemicals.
- The adder is the only poisonous snake in Britain.
- The boy died after eating poisonous berries.
- The plant's white berries are extremely poisonous.
- A mimetic butterfly is one that resembles another kind of butterfly-usually a poisonous one.
- Forest Goblin Shamans keep small poisonous spiders in their mouths.
- It just seems bad, poisonous, as if anything at all could happen.
- It was the Mirror too which exposed the massive government cover-up last year over the poisonous waste being dumped on our beaches.
- Rincewind wondered if it was poisonous, then chided himself for asking such a silly question.
- She would probably marry one of those men with faces like mirrors, Gatsby-men, poisonous and charming.
- The air is filled with a dingo's howl, the footpaths alive with the poisonous snakes on their slithering nocturnal hunt.
- Those flowers are poisonous, child, and their perfume is a miasma.
THESAURUS
containing or producing a substance that is likely to kill you, or make you very ill: · poisonous gas· poisonous snakes· The plant is poisonous to humans and animals.
toxic chemicals and waste are poisonous to people and the environment: · Crops were sprayed with highly toxic chemicals.· Lead is toxic to humans.· The site was used for the disposal of toxic waste.
[usually before noun] formal noxious substances and gases are poisonous: · Vehicles pollute the air with noxious fumes· The soil may be contaminated with noxious substances.
[usually before noun] hazardous substances are likely to harm people, animals, or the environment if they are not dealt with or got rid of carefully: · Lead is one of the most hazardous substances known, causing cancer and nerve damage.· The building is now unoccupied, and all radioactive or hazardous materials have been removed.· hazardous nuclear waste
extremely poisonous and likely to kill you – used especially about poisons and snakes: · a deadly poison· a deadly snake· Terrorists plotted to release a deadly gas.
Longman Language Activatordangerous someone or something that is dangerous is likely to cause death or serious harm: · Snow and ice are making driving conditions very dangerous.· dangerous drugs such as heroin and crack· It's dangerous work but for men like Clement, summer firefighting is an important source of income.highly/extremely dangerous (=very dangerous): · Police described the three escaped prisoners as highly dangerous.it is dangerous (for somebody) to do something: · The pilot says it's too dangerous to try to land the plane in this weather.· It's too dangerous for the kids to play in the street.
if you do something risky , it is easy to make a mistake that might cause death or serious harm - use this about things that you decide to do although you know they may be dangerous: · He'll have to land the aircraft in a field. It's risky, but there's no alternative.· Personal insurance is expensive if you plan to take part in a risky sport such as parachuting.risky to do something: · The State Department advised its employees that fighting near the borders made it too risky to leave the country.risky business (=something you do that is risky): · the risky business of putting a space vehicle into orbit
something that is poisonous will make you ill or kill you if you swallow it or breathe it: · The boy died after eating poisonous berries.· Many of our rivers are full of poisonous chemicals.highly poisonous: · Carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous gas.
especially written a hazardous activity or journey is one that is dangerous. Hazardous chemicals or substances are dangerous - used especially on warning signs: · All of us knew that the expedition was likely to be extremely hazardous.· Being the President's bodyguard is obviously a hazardous occupation.· In 1820, a voyage to Australia was a hazardous undertaking.· Employees who were exposed to hazardous substances are now claiming compensation.
a high-risk job, situation, place, or type of behaviour is likely to be dangerous: · A polio vaccine is recommended before travelling to high-risk areas.· We are getting the message across to drug users that sharing needles is a high-risk behaviour.
places or conditions that are treacherous are very dangerous for anyone who is walking, driving, climbing etc in them: · Strong winds and heavy rain are making driving conditions treacherous in some areas.· There are treacherous underwater currents along this stretch of coast.
written a perilous journey, situation etc is very dangerous - used especially in literature: · Refugees cross the rugged San Ysidro mountains, and it is always a perilous trip.· Blondin soon became famous as a rope-dancer. Nothing was too perilous for him to attempt.
likely to harm people's health or the environment · Scientists have recommended that new technology be used to target harmful bacteria.· Many of the products that we have around our homes are harmful if swallowed.· The protests were aimed at ending the dumping of harmful industrial waste at sea.harmful to · The sun's rays can be very harmful to the skin.
something that is poisonous contains a chemical that makes people, animals, or plants etc very ill or could kill them if they breathe it, swallow it, or touch it etc: · Don't drink that -- it's poisonous!· The adder is the only poisonous snake in Britain.highly poisonous: · Carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous gas, mostly produced by cars.
: hazardous chemicals/waste/substances etc substances that are poisonous and will harm people, animals, or the environment if they are not dealt with or got rid of carefully: · Lead is one of the most hazardous substances known, causing cancer and nerve damage.· The building is now unoccupied, and all radioactive or hazardous materials have been removed.· We need better regulations regarding the transportation of hazardous waste along public roads.
chemicals, gases, or waste products that are poisonous and harmful to people, animals, or the environment - used especially in technical or scientific contexts : · Research has found that the drug contains a toxic chemical that can cause respiratory problems.toxic waste (=from factories etc): · We need more installations for the disposal of toxic waste.highly toxic: · highly toxic radioactive waste productstoxic to: · Carbon dioxide is not highly toxic to animals or humans in small amounts.
formal a noxious chemical or gas harms your health and is very unpleasant: · Residents have to put up with noxious fumes from the nearby factory.· Increasing tax on petrol would encourage people to drive smaller cars with fewer noxious emissions.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY She was bitten on the ankle by a poisonous snake.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1containing poison or producing poison: She was bitten on the ankle by a poisonous snake. (=containing poison)· The chemicals that were released were highly toxic.
· Carbon monoxide is the main poisonous gas in car exhaust.
· What should you do if your child has eaten a poisonous plant?
· He warned me there were poisonous snakes in the region.
(also a noxious substance formal) (=harmful to people)· Cigarette smoke contains several poisonous substances.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· Carbon monoxide is present in all cigarette smoke and is also the poisonous gas in car exhausts.· If hydrogen sulfide or some other poisonous gas is detected, Donahue dons an airtight breathing device and a hard hat.· In addition, there was the constant danger of poisonous gas.· The barrier of poisonous gas appeared to be less penetrable than the rock that had been tunnelled through.· Carbon monoxide, a colourless, odourless and poisonous gas, is produced by incomplete combustion of carbon in fuels.· Pilot Tom Hauptman flew his helicopter into clouds of steaming, poisonous gas.· The poisonous gas is called carbon monoxide and gas appliances can produce it if they're not regularly serviced.· Carbon monoxide Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas which, when inhaled, limits the body's capacity to absorb oxygen.
· Some emit poisonous gases which kill or temporarily paralyse any insects who attempt a meal.· By then the influence of anaerobic decomposition and poisonous gases will have become obvious.· Consequently poisonous gases arise to adversely affect the medium.
· And for children, there are even more hazards: from ponds to poisonous plants and chemicals.· The Yew tree is one of the most poisonous plants in the countryside.· The poor world has great potential in this respect, including some 2,000 divisions of poisonous plants which might become pest killers.
· Many of the animals are hostile to humans: for example, poisonous snakes and fierce mountain cats.· The air is filled with a dingo's howl, the footpaths alive with the poisonous snakes on their slithering nocturnal hunt.· Ruby Wax found some real wackos in West Virginia-loons who use poisonous snakes in religious ceremonies.· The poisonous snakes invite a certain deference, and the rattlesnake is even canned occasionally for human consumption.· In popular mythology poisonous snakes are always ready and waiting for the chance to strike out and kill their attackers.· While on a mission, Paul was bitten by a poisonous snake.· By the way, I don't keep any poisonous snakes.· The King Cobra, or Hamadryad, is the largest of all poisonous snakes.
· Botulism toxin from bacteria prevents the release of acetylcholine and is the most poisonous substance known.· If there is evidence or suspicion of drugs or poisonous substances having been taken.· Hangovers are actually the body's response of shock at being subjected to a substantial dose of a poisonous substance.· Cube Boxfish can release a poisonous substance if badly-handled or attacked.· The thick, unbreathable atmosphere carries traces of what to us are corrosive and poisonous substances.
Some mushrooms are extremely poisonous. poisonous gases such as hydrogen sulfide poisonous substances She was bitten on the ankle by a poisonous snake.poisonous to The berries are poisonous to birds.2full of bad and unfriendly feelings: the poisonous atmosphere of the office3British English someone who is poisonous seems to get pleasure from causing arguments, unhappiness etc: That poisonous bastard Lucett told Morris I was seeing his wife.—poisonously adverbTHESAURUSpoisonous containing or producing a substance that is likely to kill you, or make you very ill: · poisonous gas· poisonous snakes· The plant is poisonous to humans and animals.toxic toxic chemicals and waste are poisonous to people and the environment: · Crops were sprayed with highly toxic chemicals.· Lead is toxic to humans.· The site was used for the disposal of toxic waste.noxious [usually before noun] formal noxious substances and gases are poisonous: · Vehicles pollute the air with noxious fumes· The soil may be contaminated with noxious substances.hazardous [usually before noun] hazardous substances are likely to harm people, animals, or the environment if they are not dealt with or got rid of carefully: · Lead is one of the most hazardous substances known, causing cancer and nerve damage.· The building is now unoccupied, and all radioactive or hazardous materials have been removed.· hazardous nuclear wastedeadly extremely poisonous and likely to kill you – used especially about poisons and snakes: · a deadly poison· a deadly snake· Terrorists plotted to release a deadly gas.COLLOCATIONS CHECKpoisonous gas/substance/chemical/snake/insect/planttoxic chemical/substance/wastenoxious substance/gas/fumeshazardous waste/material/chemicaldeadly poison/snake/gas/virus/disease