toxic waste
[ tok-sik weyst ]
/ ˈtɒk sɪk ˈweɪst /
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noun
any hazardous waste that, when consumed or otherwise absorbed into the body, is harmful or fatal to people or other living organisms: Toxic waste containing lead and mercury had leached into their drinking water, and the number of poisoned residents was staggering.
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Origin of toxic waste
First recorded in 1920–25
Words nearby toxic waste
toxicopathic, toxicosis, toxic psychosis, toxic shock syndrome, toxic tetanus, toxic waste, toxigenic, toxin, toxin-antitoxin, toxinic, toxinogenic
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for toxic waste
Cultural definitions for toxic waste
toxic waste
A general term used to refer to chemical compounds produced by industry which, if they are ingested or breathed in by humans, can cause physiological damage. The disposal of toxic wastes is a major environmental problem in the United States.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.