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poisonwood

[ poi-zuhn-wood ]
/ ˈpɔɪ zənˌwʊd /
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noun
a tree, Metopium toxiferum, of southern Florida, that has compound leaves and yellowish, berrylike fruits and is poisonous to touch.
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Also called poison tree .

Origin of poisonwood

An Americanism dating back to 1715–25; poison + wood1

Words nearby poisonwood

poison-pen, poison-pen letter, poison pill, poison sumac, poison sumach, poisonwood, Poisson, Poisson distribution, Poisson's ratio, Poitier, Poitiers
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use poisonwood in a sentence

  • The book's setting has drawn some comparisons to Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible.

    Great Weekend Reads|The Daily Beast|March 13, 2011|DAILY BEAST

  • The tree occurs in southern Florida where it is sometimes known as poisonwood.

    American Forest Trees|Henry H. Gibson

  • Poison sumach (Rhus vernix) is not the same as poisonwood, though sometimes the two are confounded.

    American Forest Trees|Henry H. Gibson
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