Definition

Noun: 1. A poisonous perennial plant: A toxic, long-lived plant native to Europe and Asia, characterized by violet or purple bell-shaped flowers and clusters of shiny, oval, red berries. It is scientifically known as Atropa belladonna or commonly as deadly nightshade. 2. A widespread weed: This plant has become naturalized and is commonly found as a weed in North America.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The children were warned never to touch the berries of the poisonous nightshade growing near the fence.
  • Farmers try to control the spread of poisonous nightshade in their fields because it is hazardous to livestock.

Advanced Usage

• "Deadly nightshade": This is the most common synonym for "poisonous nightshade" and emphasizes its high toxicity.
  • The herbalist handled the deadly nightshade with extreme caution due to its potent alkaloids.

Variants and Related Words

• Belladonna (n): The scientific and medicinal name for the same plant, . Often used in pharmacological contexts.
  • Belladonna has been used historically in medicine, albeit in very controlled doses.
• Nightshade (n): The broader plant family (Solanaceae) to which poisonous nightshade belongs. This family also includes many non-poisonous plants like tomatoes and potatoes.
  • Tomatoes and eggplants are members of the nightshade family.

Synonyms

• Deadly nightshade: The most direct synonym.
• Belladonna: The Latin name used in scientific and formal contexts.

Related Phrases

• "As poisonous as nightshade": An idiom used to describe something or someone extremely toxic or dangerous.
  • His words were as poisonous as nightshade, destroying her reputation.

Noun

1. poisonous perennial Old World vine having violet flowers and oval coral-red berries; widespread weed in North America