POISON IVY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does poison ivy mean? 

• POISON IVY (noun)
  The noun POISON IVY has 2 senses:

1. dermatitis resulting from contact with the poison ivy plant

2. climbing plant common in eastern and central United States with ternate leaves and greenish flowers followed by white berries; yields an irritating oil that causes a rash on contact

  Familiarity information: POISON IVY used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• POISON IVY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Dermatitis resulting from contact with the poison ivy plant

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Context example:

my poison ivy is drying up

Hypernyms ("poison ivy" is a kind of...):

Rhus dermatitis (contact dermatitis resulting from contact with plants of the genus Toxicodendron)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Climbing plant common in eastern and central United States with ternate leaves and greenish flowers followed by white berries; yields an irritating oil that causes a rash on contact

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Synonyms:

markweed; poison ivy; poison mercury; poison oak; Rhus radicans; Toxicodendron radicans

Hypernyms ("poison ivy" is a kind of...):

poisonous plant (a plant that when touched or ingested in sufficient quantity can be harmful or fatal to an organism)

Holonyms ("poison ivy" is a member of...):

genus Toxicodendron; Toxicodendron (in some classifications: comprising those members of the genus Rhus having foliage that is poisonous to the touch; of North America and northern South America)

 Context examples 

Some are available over-the-counter (without a doctor’s order) and may help lessen local pain, irritation, and itching caused by conditions such as cold sores, sunburn, poison ivy, and minor cuts.

(Local anesthesia, NCI Dictionary)

Poison ivy is a frequent cause of such reactivity, due to the urushiol from the plant, as are a variety of antigens derived from industrial exposure (e.g. rubber, chromate, nickel).

(Contact Hypersensitivity, NCI Thesaurus)