venom

Everyday

1. Venom is a poison that some animals, like snakes, spiders, scorpions and bees, put into a victim by biting or stinging. tree →
2. Venom can mean very strong, nasty anger or hate in what someone says. tree →

In the lessons

In science, venomous animals use venom to catch prey or defend themselves; Australia has many venomous snakes and spiders. Doctors make antivenom to treat bites. In safety, never touch or pick up a snake or spider you do not know; if bitten, keep still and get help. In stories, venom shows a cruel, hateful voice. Phrases: snake venom, deadly venom, full of venom, antivenom.

Examples

• The snake's venom can paralyse its prey. tree →
• Some spiders have venom that is dangerous to people. tree →
• Doctors gave him antivenom after the bite. tree →
• A bee's sting contains venom. tree →
• She spoke with venom in her voice. tree →
• Scientists study venom to make new medicines. tree →
• And a cloud of venom flew before him as he snorted and roared, so that it would have been death to stand before him. tree →

Note

Venomous and poisonous are different: a venomous animal injects its poison (by bite or sting); a poisonous one hurts you if you eat or touch it (like some frogs). Adjective: venomous. Uncountable: no plural.

In Jewish tradition

In Moses' song it is the poison of snakes sent as punishment on a faithless people. The psalms and prophets use it as a picture of cruel, hurtful words and of wicked deeds, such as the snake's poison under the lips or a poisoned drink given to a neighbour.

Interpretation. Tradition reads the snake's venom in the psalms as a picture of the harm done by slander and evil speech. The tongue can hurt like a snake's bite.

Examples

• Their wine is the venom of serpents, and the cruel poison of asps. (Torah DEU.32.33, JPS 1917) tree →
• The wasting of hunger, and the devouring of the fiery bolt, and bitter destruction; and the teeth of beasts will I send upon them, with the venom of crawling things of the dust. (Torah DEU.32.24, JPS 1917) tree →
• They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent; vipers' venom is under their lips. (Writings PSA.140.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• Their venom is like the venom of a serpent; they are like the deaf asp that stoppeth her ear; (Writings PSA.58.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy venom thereto, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness! (Prophets HAB.2.15, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Venomous and poisonous are different: a venomous animal injects its poison (by bite or sting); a poisonous one hurts you if you eat or touch it (like some frogs). Adjective: venomous. Uncountable: no plural.