nightshade
Americannoun
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any of various plants of the genus Solanum, especially the black nightshade or the bittersweet.
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any of various other related plants, as the deadly nightshade.
noun
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any of various solanaceous plants, such as deadly nightshade, woody nightshade, and black nightshade
Etymology
Origin of nightshade
before 1000; Middle English; Old English nihtscada. See night, shade
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"It detoxifies the body and is good in weight loss," says James Wathiru, who ordered "managu" - or African nightshade.
From BBC • Jul. 20, 2025
The plant is part of the black nightshade family and is harmful if eaten, especially its unripened berries or leaves, and can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, trembling, paralysis, coma or even death.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 21, 2024
Since the studies focus solely on silverleaf nightshade, Kariyat said other weeds -- even the plant's family relatives -- may or may not react the same way to frequent mowing.
From Science Daily • Jun. 3, 2024
On the farm, people grow culturally relevant produce like terere, kunde and managu — amaranth, cowpeas leaves and African nightshade.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 12, 2023
More plants bloomed along the edge of the pit—hemlock, nightshade, and oleander spreading toward Percy’s feet like a deadly carpet.
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
