Definition of urushiol in English:
urushiol
noun ʊˈruːʃɪɒl(y)o͝oˈro͞oSHēˌôl
mass nounBiochemistry An oily liquid which is the main constituent of Japanese lacquer and is responsible for the irritant properties of poison ivy and other plants. It consists of a mixture of catechol derivatives.
Example sentencesExamples
- If you're lucky enough to learn of your child's contact with poison ivy within five to ten minutes, then there's a chance that you can wash off the urushiol oil, which causes the reaction.
- These products often lay a polymer film on the skin that prevents urushiol from permeating to the dermal layer and, in so doing, function as a barrier.
- Unfortunately, the study also found that carbon dioxide-enhanced poison ivy boasts a stronger strain of urushiol, which may prove even more poisonous to humans.
- All parts of the poison ivy plant produce the oily irritating agent, urushiol.
- Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac all contain the same allergic irritant: urushiol.
- For people who are sensitive to urushiol, the toxic compound found in the plants, the slightest contact can result in a painful itching rash.
Origin
Early 20th century: from Japanese urushi 'Japanese lacquer' + -ol.