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venomous - 4 dictionary results

ven⋅om⋅ous

  [ven-uh-muhs]
Use venomous in a Sentence
–adjective
1. (of an animal) having a gland or glands for secreting venom; able to inflict a poisoned bite, sting, or wound: a venomous snake.
2. full of or containing venom; poisonous: a venomous wound; a venomous potion.
3. spiteful; malignant: a venomous attack; a venomous tongue.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME venim(o)us < AF venimus (OF venimeux). See venom, -ous

Related forms:
ven⋅om⋅ous⋅ly, adverb
ven⋅om⋅ous⋅ness, ven⋅om⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
3. malicious, hostile, rancorous, ill-disposed.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To venomous
ven·om·ous   (věn'ə-məs)   
adj.  
    1. Secreting and transmitting venom: a venomous snake.
    2. Full of or containing venom.
  2. Malicious; spiteful: a venomous remark. See Synonyms at poisonous.
ven'om·ous·ly adv., ven'om·ous·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Venomous

Ven"om*ous\, a. [OE. venemous, venimous, F. venimeux, L. venenosus, fr. venenum poison. See Venom, and cf. Venenose.]

1. Full of venom; noxious to animal life; poisonous; as, the bite of a serpent may be venomous.

2. (Zo["o]l.) Having a poison gland or glands for the secretion of venom, as certain serpents and insects.

3. Noxious; mischievous; malignant; spiteful; as, a venomous progeny; a venomous writer.

Venomous snake (Zo["o]l.), any serpent which has poison glands and fangs, whether dangerous to man or not. These serpents constitute two tribes, the viperine serpents, or Solenoglypha, and the cobralike serpents, or Proteroglypha. The former have perforated, erectile fangs situated in the front part of the upper jaw, and are without ordinary teeth behind the fangs; the latter have permanently erect and grooved fangs, with ordinary maxillary teeth behind them. -- Ven"om*ous*ly, adv. -- Ven"om*ous*ness, n.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : venomous
Spanish: venenoso,
German: giftig,
Japanese: 有毒な
More Translations »

Main Entry: ven·om·ous
Pronunciation: 'ven-&-m&s
Function: adjective
1 : POISONOUS
2 : having a venom-producing gland and able to inflict a poisoned wound venomous>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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