toxic
pronunciation
How to pronounce toxic in British English:
UK [ˈtɒksɪk]
How to pronounce toxic in American English:
US [ˈtɑːksɪk]
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- Adjective:
- of or relating to or caused by a toxin or poison
Word Origin
- toxic
- toxic: [17] The etymological meaning underlying toxic is of ‘poisoned arrows’. Its ultimate source is Greek tóxon ‘bow’, which also gave English toxophily ‘archery’ [19]. From it was derived toxikós ‘of bows and arrows’, which formed the basis of a noun toxikón ‘poison for putting on arrows’. Latin took this over as toxicum ‘poison’, and the medieval Latin derivative toxicus gave English toxic.=> toxophily
- toxic (adj.)
- 1660s, from French toxique and directly from Late Latin toxicus "poisoned," from Latin toxicum "poison," from Greek toxikon (pharmakon) "(poison) for use on arrows," from toxikon, neuter of toxikos "pertaining to arrows or archery," and thus to a bow, from toxon "bow," probably from a Scythian word that also was borrowed into Latin as taxus "yew." Watkins suggests a possible source in Iranian taxša- "bow," from PIE *tekw- "to run, flee." As a noun from 1890.
Example
- 1. He admits that high protein diets can be toxic .
- 2. But if immigration reform is a noble cause it also remains toxic domestic politics .
- 3. Experts offer their tips on handling bully and toxic bosses .
- 4. Many toxic securities are complex and embed fraud .
- 5. Toxic foodstuffs continue to be sold .