venom

American  

[ven-uhm] / ˈvɛn əm /

noun

1. the poisonous fluid that some animals, as certain snakes and spiders, secrete and introduce into the bodies of their victims by biting, stinging, etc.

2. something resembling or suggesting poison in its effect; spite; malice.

   the venom of jealousy.

   Synonyms:

   hate , spleen , gall , acerbity , bitterness , acrimony , malignity

3. Archaic.  poison in general.

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verb (used with object)

1. Archaic.  to make venomous; envenom.

venom British  

/ ˈvɛnəm /

noun

1. a poisonous fluid secreted by such animals as certain snakes and scorpions and usually transmitted by a bite or sting

2. malice; spite

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venom Scientific  

/ vĕn′əm /

1. Any of various poisonous substances secreted by certain snakes, spiders, scorpions, and insects and transmitted to a victim by a bite or sting. Venoms are highly concentrated fluids that typically consist of dozens or hundreds of powerful enzymes, peptides, and smaller organic compounds. These compounds target and disable specific chemicals in the victim, damaging cellular and organ system function. Snake venoms, for example, contain substances that block platelet aggregation (causing bleeding) and that prevent the release of acetylcholine by nerve endings (causing muscle paralysis). Many substances contained in venoms are under investigation for use as pharmaceuticals.

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Related Words

See poison.

Other Word Forms

• outvenom verb (used with object)
• unvenomed adjective
• venomless adjective
• venomous adjective
• venomously adverb
• venomousness noun

Etymology

Origin of venom

First recorded in 1175–1225; variant of Middle English venim, from Anglo-French; Old French venim, venin, from (unattested) Vulgar Latin venīmen, for Latin venēnum “magical herb or potion, poison,” from (unattested) wenes-nom, equivalent to (unattested) wenes- desire ( venerate, Venus ) + (unattested) -nom noun suffix

Example Sentences

These included flexible jaws and, in some lizards and snakes, venom.

From Science Daily

"This level of hatred is shocking, you can see and even touch the venom," he said, while appealing for Zambians to love each other.

From BBC

But he reserves special venom for the imperious U.S. ambassador, Graham Martin, whose loose hold on reality fed hopes that Washington might still deliver enough weaponry to turn the tide.

From Washington Post

“There is a lot of venom there,” he said.

From New York Times

In “A Modern Herbal,” Maude Grieve describes the stinging agent in nettles as “venom, an acrid fluid, the active principle of which is said to be bicarbonate of ammonia.”

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• bitterness
• hatred
• rancor
• toxin