noun
venom
VEN-uhm/ˈvenəm/
Poison delivered by an animal through a bite or sting.
Small drops of venom emerge from the viper's hollow fangs.
Etymology
Latin venenum could mean a drug or medical potion as well as poison. English venom specializes the poison meaning here: an animal secretion delivered through a bite or sting.
In context
snake venom is a type of poison which is typically yellow fluid and is produced in the back of the snake's head in the salivary glands
More examples
- A bee injects venom when it stings.
- The scorpion delivers venom through its tail stinger.
- Researchers study snake venom to develop new medicines.
Forms
venomous adjective — Producing poison delivered through bites or stings.
Similar words
- poison
- A broader term for substances that harm living things.
- toxin
- A poison produced by living organisms, not necessarily injected.