Wiktionary

toxic

See also: tòxic

English

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Etymology

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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

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Adjective

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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
    Tobacco smoke contains many toxic substances.
    • 2019 December 8, Hannah Beech, Ryn Jirenuwat, “The Price of Recycling Old Laptops: Toxic Fumes in Thailand’s Lungs”, in New York Times‎[1]:
      If some types of electronic waste aren’t incinerated at a high enough temperature, dioxins, which can cause cancer and developmental problems, infiltrate the food supply. Without proper safeguarding, toxic heavy metals seep into the soil and groundwater.
  2. (medicine) Appearing grossly unwell; characterised by serious, potentially life-threatening compromise in the respiratory, circulatory or other body systems.
    The child appeared toxic on arrival at the hospital.
  3. (figurative) Severely negative or harmful.
    a toxic environment that promoted bullying
  4. (figurative, of a person) Hateful or strongly antipathetic.
    It is not good to be around toxic people.
    • 2020 April 23, Cal Newport, “'Expert Twitter' Only Goes So Far. Bring Back Blogs”, in Wired‎[2]:
      Though Twitter is still overrun with toxic anger and fear-based nonsense (now more than ever), it is also, in one crucial way, beginning to play an important role in our response to the pandemic.
    • 2024 April 29, Jon Henley, “Surreal claims, lawfare and abuse: toxic politics in Spain reflect the new Europe”, in The Guardian‎[3], →ISSN:
      A veteran UN diplomat, Kaag, 62, said the environment for politicians in the Netherlands had become “toxic” as she and colleagues faced a continual barrage of “hate, intimidation and threats” and often needed tight police security.

Derived terms

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Translations

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Further reading

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Interlingua

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Adjective

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toxic (comparative plus toxic, superlative le plus toxic)

  1. toxic (chemically noxious to health)
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Romanian

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Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈtok.sik/, /tokˈsik/

Adjective

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

  1. toxic
    Synonyms: otrăvicios, otrăvitor

Declension

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singular plural
masculine neuter feminine masculine neuter feminine
nominative-
accusative 		indefinite toxic toxică toxici toxice
definite toxicul toxica toxicii toxicele
genitive-
dative 		indefinite toxic toxice toxici toxice
definite toxicului toxicei toxicelor toxicilor
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