| a powerful herbicide and defoliant containing trace amounts of dioxin, a toxic impurity suspected of causing serious health problems, including cancer and genetic damage, in some persons exposed to it and birth defects in their offspring: used by U.S. armed forces during the Vietnam War to defoliate jungles. |
A·gent Orange  (ā'jənt)  n. A herbicide containing trace amounts of the toxic contaminant dioxin that was used in the Vietnam War to defoliate areas of forest. [From the orange identifying strip on drums in which it was stored.] |
Agent Orange n.
A herbicide that contains trace amounts of the toxic contaminant dioxin, used in the Vietnam War to defoliate areas of forest.
| Agent Orange
A mixture of equal amounts of two herbicides known as 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T, and trace amounts of the toxic contaminant dioxin (a byproduct of the manufacture of 2,4,5-T). It was used in the Vietnam War to defoliate areas of forest. |