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parathion

American

[par-uh-thahy-on] / ˌpær əˈθaɪ ɒn /

noun

Chemistry.

a deep-brown to yellow, poisonous liquid, C 1 0 H 1 4 NO 5 PS, used as an insecticide.

parathion British

/ ˌpærəˈθaɪɒn /

noun

a slightly water-soluble toxic oil, odourless and colourless when pure, used as an insecticide. Formula: C 10 H 14 NO 5 PS

"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 parathion

First recorded in 1945–50; para- ¹ + thi- + -on(e)

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.

See Examples For:

parathion

The bees received pollen, water, and food contaminated with the pesticide methyl parathion.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 22, 2026

When 6PPD reacts with ground-level ozone, it transforms into 6PPD-q — second only to the chemical war agent parathion in its toxicity to aquatic species.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 30, 2023

One of the circumstances that save us from extinction by parathion and the other chemicals of the organic-phosphate group is that they are decomposed rather rapidly.

From The New Yorker ● Jan. 3, 2017

Colombia bans use of methyl parathion — one of the two pesticides Ms. Grayson mentioned — and effectively bans use of the other, aldicarb, on flowers, as well.

From Washington Post ● May 15, 2015

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

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