poison hemlock

noun

: a large European biennial poisonous herb (Conium maculatum) of the carrot family that is naturalized in the U.S. and has finely divided leaves and small white flowers compare water hemlock

Examples of poison hemlock in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
How do poison hemlock and wild parsnip harm humans? Mariyam Muhammad, The Enquirer, 30 May 2024 Why are poison hemlock and wild parsnip bad for Ohio? Mariyam Muhammad, The Enquirer, 30 May 2024 Related Articles Different kinds of toxic plants cause gastrointestinal distress, like azaleas and rhododendrons, and some are deadly, such as poison hemlock, aconite/monkshood, castor bean seeds and Nicotiana glauca. Sara Okeefe, The Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2024 The thick layer of mulch blocks sunlight from reaching seeds of invasive weeds such as Italian thistle, poison hemlock and Cape ivy that would otherwise quickly take over. Alix Soliman, Hartford Courant, 3 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for poison hemlock 

Word History

First Known Use

1757, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of poison hemlock was in 1757

Dictionary Entries Near poison hemlock

Cite this Entry

“Poison hemlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poison%20hemlock. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

poison hemlock

noun
1
: a large European poisonous herb of the genus Conium (C. maculatum) that is naturalized in the U.S. and has finely divided leaves and white flowers
2

More from Merriam-Webster on poison hemlock

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!