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definitions

toxic

[tok-sik]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR toxic ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of, pertaining to, affected with, or caused by a toxin or poison: a toxic condition.
acting as or having the effect of a poison; poisonous: a toxic drug.
causing unpleasant feelings; harmful or malicious: a toxic boyfriend; toxic criticism.
pertaining to or noting debt that will probably not be repaid: toxic mortgages.
pertaining to or noting a financial instrument or other asset that has no value or an unknown value because there is no market for it: toxic mortgage-backed securities.

noun

a toxic chemical or other substance.

RELATED WORDS

secure, healthy, certain, reliable, harmless, dependable, pure, clear, innocuous, simple, naive, powerless, gentle, innocent, inoffensive, painless, sound, competent, tame, trustworthy

Origin of toxic

1655–65; < Late Latin toxicus poisonous, adj. derivative of Latin toxicum poison < Greek toxikón (orig. short for toxikòn phármakon literally, bow poison, i.e., poison used on arrows), equivalent to tóx(on) bow + -ikon, neuter of -ikos -ic
Related formstox·i·cal·ly, adverbhy·per·tox·ic, adjectivenon·tox·ic, adjectivenon·tox·i·cal·ly, adverbpost·tox·ic, adjectiveun·tox·ic, adjectiveun·tox·i·cal·ly, adverb
Can be confusedtoxic toxin
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for nontoxic

Historical Examples of nontoxic

  • And any nontoxic atmosphere will do, as long as there's enough oxygen in it.

    The Stoker and the Stars

    Algirdas Jonas Budrys (AKA John A. Sentry)

British Dictionary definitions for nontoxic

nontoxic

adjective

not of, relating to, or caused by a toxin or poisonsafe, nontoxic paint

toxic

adjective

of, relating to, or caused by a toxin or poison; poisonous
harmful or deadly
(of a financial asset) likely to cause significant loss to the holder
Derived Formstoxically, adverb

Word Origin for toxic

C17: from medical Latin toxicus, from Latin toxicum poison, from Greek toxikon (pharmakon) (poison) used on arrows, from toxon arrow
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
Word Origin and History for nontoxic

toxic

adj.

1660s, from French toxique, from Late Latin toxicus "poisoned," from Latin toxicum "poison," from Greek toxikon (pharmakon) "(poison) for use on arrows," from toxikon, neuter of toxikos "pertaining to arrows or archery," and thus to a bow, from toxon "bow," probably from a Scythian word that also was borrowed into Latin as taxus "yew."

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for nontoxic

toxic

[tŏk′sĭk]

adj.

Of, relating to, or caused by a toxin or other poison.
Capable of causing injury or death, especially by chemical means; poisonous.

n.

A toxic chemical or other substance.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for nontoxic

toxic

[tŏk′sĭk]

Relating to or caused by a toxin.
Capable of causing injury or death, especially by chemical means; poisonous.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.