INTOXICATION

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does intoxication mean? 

• INTOXICATION (noun)
  The noun INTOXICATION has 3 senses:

1. the physiological state produced by a poison or other toxic substance

2. a temporary state resulting from excessive consumption of alcohol

3. excitement and elation beyond the bounds of sobriety

  Familiarity information: INTOXICATION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INTOXICATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The physiological state produced by a poison or other toxic substance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

intoxication; poisoning; toxic condition

Hypernyms ("intoxication" is a kind of...):

physical condition; physiological condition; physiological state (the condition or state of the body or bodily functions)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "intoxication"):

alkali poisoning (poisoning resulting from the ingestion of an alkali compound (as lye or ammonia))

caffeine intoxication; caffeinism (poisoning resulting from excessive intake of caffeine containing products)

carbon monoxide poisoning (a toxic condition that results from inhaling and absorbing carbon monoxide gas)

cyanide poisoning (poisoning due to ingesting or inhaling cyanide; common in smoke from fires and in industrial chemicals)

ergotism (poisoning by ingestion of ergot-infected grain products; characterized by thirst and diarrhea and nausea and cramping and vomiting and abnormal cardiac rhythms; in severe cases it can cause seizures and gangrene of the limbs)

mercury poisoning (a toxic condition caused by ingesting or inhaling mercury; acute mercury poisoning causes a metallic taste and vomiting and diarrhea and kidney problems that may lead to death)

naphthalene poisoning (toxic condition resulting from inhaling or ingesting naphthalene)

nicotine poisoning (toxic condition caused by the ingestion or inhalation of large amounts of nicotine)

ophidism (poisoning by snake venom)

paraquat poisoning (poisoning caused by ingestion of paraquat; characterized by progressive damage to the esophagus and liver and kidneys)

pesticide poisoning (toxic condition resulting from ingesting or inhaling a pesticide)

salicylate poisoning (poisoning caused by the excessive ingestion of salicylates (usually aspirin))

Derivation:

intoxicate (have an intoxicating effect on, of a drug)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A temporary state resulting from excessive consumption of alcohol

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

drunkenness; inebriation; inebriety; insobriety; intoxication; tipsiness

Hypernyms ("intoxication" is a kind of...):

temporary state (a state that continues for a limited time)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "intoxication"):

grogginess (a dazed and staggering state caused by alcohol)

sottishness (stupefaction from drink)

Derivation:

intoxicate (have an intoxicating effect on, of a drug)

intoxicate (make drunk (with alcoholic drinks))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Excitement and elation beyond the bounds of sobriety

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Context example:

the intoxication of wealth and power

Hypernyms ("intoxication" is a kind of...):

excitement; exhilaration (the feeling of lively and cheerful joy)

Derivation:

intoxicate (fill with high spirits; fill with optimism)

 Context examples 

Causes include central nervous system damage, intoxication, and metabolic abnormalities.

(Coma, NCI Thesaurus)

A few more drinks, and in his brain he felt the maggots of intoxication beginning to crawl.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

It results in accumulation of substances in the body that can cause acute or chronic intoxication.

(Intermediary Metabolism Disorder, NCI Thesaurus)

As to the washerwoman pawning the clothes, and coming in a state of penitent intoxication to apologize, I suppose that might have happened several times to anybody.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Nothing could break in upon that serene intoxication.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It usually occurs during myocardial infarction, after heart surgery, or in digitalis intoxication.

(Junctional Tachycardia by ECG Finding, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

Neurodegenerative conditions are characterised by a progressive loss of brain function, so that patients start to lose control of their movement, balance, memory and speech — similar to what happens when people have strong alcohol intoxication.

(New Mechanisms Found of Cell Death in Neurodegenerative Disorders, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

The steadiness of his manner, and the intelligence of his eye as he spoke, convincing Elinor, that whatever other unpardonable folly might bring him to Cleveland, he was not brought there by intoxication, she said, after a moment's recollection, Mr. Willoughby, you OUGHT to feel, and I certainly DO—that after what has passed—your coming here in this manner, and forcing yourself upon my notice, requires a very particular excuse.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

At the same time, visual regions had the most significant decreases in cost of activity during alcohol intoxication, which is consistent with the reliance of these regions on alternative energy sources such as acetate, a byproduct of alcohol metabolism.

(Study of brain energy patterns provides new insights into alcohol effects, National Institutes of Health)

The present communication is penned within the personal range (I cannot call it the society) of an individual, in a state closely bordering on intoxication, employed by a broker.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)