curare

or cu·ra·ri

[ kyoo-rahr-ee, koo- ]

noun

1. a blackish, resinlike substance derived from tropical plants of the genus Strychnos, especially S. toxifera, and from the root of pareira, used by certain South American Indians for poisoning arrows and employed in physiological experiments, medicine, etc., for arresting the action of motor nerves.
2. a plant yielding this substance.

curare

/ kjʊˈrɑːrɪ /

noun

1. black resin obtained from certain tropical South American trees, esp Chondrodendron tomentosum , acting on the motor nerves to cause muscular paralysis: used medicinally as a muscle relaxant and by South American Indians as an arrow poison
2. any of various trees of the genera Chondrodendron (family Menispermaceae ) and Strychnos (family Loganiaceae ) from which this resin is obtained

curare

/ k-rä′rē,ky- /

1. A dark, resinous extract obtained from several tropical American woody plants, especially Chondrodendron tomentosum or certain species of Strychnos, used as an arrow poison by some Indian peoples of South America.
2. A purified preparation of an alkaloid obtained from Chondrodendron tomentosum, used in medicine and surgery to relax skeletal muscles.

Word History and Origins

Origin of curare¹

1770–80; < Portuguese < Carib kurari

Word History and Origins

Origin of curare¹

C18: from Portuguese and Spanish, from Carib kurari

Example Sentences

A yellowish liquid soon commenced to filter and drip into the pan, and this liquid was the curare, the arrow poison.

From Project Gutenberg

The “curare” does not kill the nerves, for the frog still suffers under the dissecting knife.

From Project Gutenberg

Curemus quam uterque partem; tu alterum, ego alterum; nam ambos curare propemodum reposcere illum est quem dedisti.

From Project Gutenberg

Is this perchance the same curare that is discussed by Father Gumilla in his Orinoco ilustrado?

From Project Gutenberg

Curare is an Indian arrow poison which absolutely prevents all muscular movement.

From Project Gutenberg