n.
- a substance that causes death or harm when introduced into or absorbed by a living organism.
- something that has a destructive or corrupting influence.
- Chemistry a substance that reduces the activity of a catalyst.
- Physics an impurity that retards nuclear fission by absorbing neutrons.
v.
- administer poison to or contaminate with poison.
- corrupt or harm.
Derivative
Etymology
ME: from OFr. poison ‘magic potion’, from L. potio(n-) ‘potion’, rel. to potare ‘to drink’.