[bel-uh-don-uh] 
| 1. | Also called deadly nightshade. a poisonous plant, Atropa belladonna, of the nightshade family, having purplish-red flowers and black berries. |
| 2. | Pharmacology. a drug from the leaves and root of this plant, containing atropine and related alkaloids: used in medicine to check secretions and spasms, to relieve pain or dizziness, and as a cardiac and respiratory stimulant. |
| bel·la·don·na (běl'ə-dŏn'ə) n.
[Italian : bella, feminine of bello, beautiful (from Latin bellus; see deu-2 in Indo-European roots) + donna, lady; see Donna.] |
| bittersweet nightshade n. A poisonous climbing or trailing plant (Solanum dulcamara) native to Eurasia and a widespread weed in North America, having violet flowers with recurved corolla lobes and red berries. Also called bittersweet, deadly nightshade. [After its roots, which are said to taste bitter, then sweet when chewed.] |
| deadly nightshade n.
|
belladonna bel·la·don·na (běl'ə-dŏn'ə)
n.
A poisonous Eurasian perennial herb having usually solitary, purplish-brown, bell-shaped flowers and glossy black berries. Also called deadly nightshade.
An alkaloidal extract or tincture derived from this plant.
deadly nightshade dead·ly nightshade (děd'lē)
n.
See belladonna.
| belladonna (běl'ə-dŏn'ə) Pronunciation Key
A preparation of the dried leaves or roots of deadly nightshade or related plants in the genus Belladonna, once used as a medicine. Belladonna contains several alkaloids that affect the nervous system by blocking the effects of acetylcholine. |
