Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1600-1700
Language: Late Latin
Origin: toxicus, from Latin toxicum 'poison', from Greek toxikon 'arrow poison', from toxon 'bow, arrow'

toxic

 adjective
     
tox‧ic
containing poison, or caused by poisonous substances:
fumes from a toxic waste dump
toxic chemicals/substances/fumes/gases
Toxic chemicals were spilled into the river.
a highly toxic pesticide
—toxicity noun [uncountable and countable]
The metal has a relatively low toxicity to humans.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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