poison

Universal Words noun, verb noun [C,U] 1 a substance that causes death or harm if it is swallowed or absorbed into the body: Some mushrooms contain a deadly poison. * How did he die? Was it poison? * The dog was killed by rat poison (= poison intended to kill rats). * to hunt with poison arrows * bombs containing poison gas 2 an idea, a feeling, etc. that is extremely harmful: the poison of racial hatred IDIOMS what's your poison? (spoken, humorous) used to ask sb what alcoholic drink they would like verb [VN] 1 ~ sb (with sth) to harm or kill a person or an animal by giving them poison: In the last chapter, she poisons herself with arsenic. * Thousands are at risk of being poisoned by fumes from faulty heaters. 2 to put poison in or on sth: a poisoned arrow * Someone had been poisoning his food. * Large sections of the river have been poisoned by toxic waste from factories. * Exhaust fumes are poisoning our cities. 3 (written) to have a bad effect on sth: His comment served only to poison the atmosphere still further. * She succeeded in poisoning their minds against me. IDIOMS a poisoned chalice (especially BrE) a thing which seems attractive when it is given to sb but which soon becomes unpleasant: He inherited a poisoned chalice when he took over the job as union leader.