Showing results for malathion. Search instead for malathions.

malathion

American

[mal-uh-thahy-on, ‑uhn] / ˌmæl əˈθaɪ ɒn, ‑ən /

noun

an organic phosphate insecticide, C 10 H 19 O 6 S 2 P, of relatively low toxicity for mammals.

Malathion British

/ ˌmæləˈθaɪɒn /

noun

a yellow organophosphorus insecticide used as a dust or mist for the control of house flies and garden pests. Formula: C 10 H 19 O 6 PS 2

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of malathion

First recorded in 1953

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.

A woman driving her 5-day-old Nissan Maxima was caught in a malathion shower on her way home to Rowland Heights, where her equally new car cover awaited.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 15, 2024

As for malathion, a 2000 federal review found it posed no threat to people when used correctly.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 15, 2024

Health and environmental scientists are concerned about more than the direct impact of having potentially greater amounts of acephate and malathion on celery and other produce.

From Salon • Apr. 25, 2024

In its proposals to increase the allowable amount of both acephate and malathion on food, the EPA also had to look past other potentially concerning test results.

From Salon • Apr. 25, 2024

The other group consists of the organic phosphorus insecticides, and is represented by the reasonably familiar malathion and parathion.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023