toxic

English Online Dictionary. What means toxic‎? What does toxic mean?

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French toxique, from Late Latin toxicus (“poisoned”), from Latin toxicum (“poison”), from Ancient Greek τοξικόν (toxikón) [φάρμακον (phármakon)] ("poison for use on arrows"), from τοξικός (toxikós, “pertaining to arrows or archery”), from τόξον (tóxon, “bow”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈtɒk.sɪk/
• (cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /ˈtɑk.sɪk/
• Rhymes: -ɒksɪk

Adjective

toxic (comparative more toxic, superlative most toxic)

1. (toxicology, pharmacology) Having a chemical nature that is harmful to health or lethal if consumed or otherwise entering into the body in sufficient quantities.

   Synonyms: poisonous, venomous
2. (medicine) Appearing grossly unwell; characterised by serious, potentially life-threatening compromise in the respiratory, circulatory or other body systems.

3. (figurative) Severely negative or harmful.

4. (figurative, of a person) Hateful or strongly antipathetic.

Derived terms

Related terms

• toxin (noun)
• intoxicate
• toxicant

Translations

Further reading

• “toxic”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• Douglas Harper (2001–2025) “toxic”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Interlingua

Adjective

toxic (comparative plus toxic, superlative le plus toxic)

1. toxic (chemically noxious to health)

Related terms

• toxicitate

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French toxique, Latin toxicus, from Ancient Greek τοξικόν (toxikón). See also toapsec.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtok.sik/, /tokˈsik/

Adjective

toxic m or n (feminine singular toxică, masculine plural toxici, feminine and neuter plural toxice)

1. toxic

   Synonyms: otrăvicios, otrăvitor

Declension

Related terms

• intoxica
• toapsec