curare

noun

cu·​ra·​re kyu̇-ˈrär-ē 

ku̇-

variants or less commonly curari

1

: a complex poison of South American Indians used on arrow tips that causes muscle relaxation and paralysis, includes various substances of plant and animal origin, and typically contains an alkaloid extracted from one of two South American vines (Strychnos toxifera of the family Loganiaceae or Chondodendron tomentosum of the family Menispermaceae) as the primary active ingredient

2

: an extract containing one of the primary alkaloid constituents (such as tubocurarine) of curare

Examples of curare in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Like their ancestors, the Yanomami hunt for wild boar and monkeys, using arrows tipped with poison from the curare plant. —Luciana Magalhaes, WSJ, 27 Sep. 2020

Awareness became a clinical problem in the 1940s with the introduction of the paralyzing drug curare. —Henry Marsh, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2018

Poison frogs, also known as poison dart frogs, belong to a diverse group that is commonly associated with curare and other toxins, with which indigenous people have historically laced their hunting spears. —National Geographic, 18 Jan. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese & Spanish curare, from Carib kurari

First Known Use

1777, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

curare

noun

cu·​ra·​re k(y)u̇-ˈrär-ē 

: a dried product in water especially of a tropical American vine used to poison arrow tips and in medicine to relax muscles

Medical Definition

curare

noun

cu·​ra·​re

variants also curari

k(y)u̇-ˈrär-ē 

: a dried aqueous extract especially of a vine (as Strychnos toxifera of the family Loganiaceae or Chondodendron tomentosum of the family Menispermaceae) that produces muscle relaxation and is used in arrow poisons by South American Indians compare tubocurarine