organophosphate nerve agent
- noun
- /ˌɔrɡənəˈfɑːsfeɪt nɜrv ˈeɪdʒənt/
- NSFW
:
agente nervioso organofosforado
- During the conflict, the use of organophosphate nerve agents raised severe international concerns about chemical warfare.
Examples
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Other reports also documented Iraq's use of organophosphate nerve agents (especially Taboon).
Academic text (2007) -
The military tested a new organophosphate nerve agent to assess its effects on the nervous system.
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Scientists are researching the long-term impacts of exposure to organophosphate nerve agents on human health.
Synonyms
176
4.6
A harmful chemical that kills or hurts people, animals and plants in war
19
6.8
A very poisonous gas that stops people breathing, often used as a weapon
13
8.8
A very poisonous chemical used as a weapon that stops the nerves from working and makes people stop breathing
Surface Forms
Morphology
organophosphate + nerve + agent
The phrase is compositionally transparent: 'organophosphate' identifies the chemical class, 'nerve' specifies the biological target, and 'agent' indicates a substance causing an effect. A learner who knows those constituents can infer it refers to a nerve-affecting toxic substance of the organophosphate class rather than an idiomatic or non-compositional meaning.
Etymology
The name organophosphate nerve agent comes from chemistry: organophosphate names a type of chemical group and nerve agent says it 'attacks' the nerves. Imagine tiny particles that stop the body's message 'wires', which is why these chemicals act very fast, are highly toxic, and have been used as weapons.