poisonous

Everyday

1. Containing poison; able to make you very ill or kill you if eaten, drunk, breathed in or touched. tree →
2. Of a person or remarks: very unkind and harmful (figurative). tree →

In the lessons

In safety lessons: poisonous plants, berries and mushrooms — never eat anything from the wild unless an adult who knows says it's safe; household products like bleach and cleaners are poisonous; medicines can be poisonous if you take too much; carbon monoxide gas is poisonous. In science: animals like poison dart frogs are poisonous to eat or touch; animals that bite or sting with poison are venomous. Phrases: poisonous plants, poisonous berries, poisonous mushrooms, poisonous gas, highly poisonous.

Examples

• Some mushrooms are poisonous. tree →
• Don't eat berries from the bushes — they might be poisonous. tree →
• Bleach is poisonous, so keep it locked away. tree →
• Poison dart frogs are poisonous to touch. tree →
• Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas you can't smell. tree →
• Foxgloves are poisonous plants. tree →
• Is this spider poisonous or venomous? tree →
• Chocolate is poisonous to dogs. tree →
• Poisonous flies and gnats flew into the coach by thousands. tree →

Note

Spelling: «poison + ous». Poisonous (harms you when you eat or touch it) vs venomous (injects poison by a bite or sting): a snake is venomous; a toadstool is poisonous. Some foods safe for people are poisonous to pets (chocolate, grapes for dogs).