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Glite Dictionary
deadly venom

deadly venom

1 4.6
Poison from an animal, like a snake or frog, that can kill people
  • noun
translation icon : veneno mortal
  • The snake's bite contains deadly venom that can kill within minutes.

Examples

  • Certain species of spiders have deadly venom that poses a serious threat to humans.

  • Adams wrote, "the deadly venom which inflicted the immedicable wound? was but the color of Othello?

    Academic text (2014)

  • Many creatures in the rainforest possess deadly venom that they use to defend themselves.

Antonyms

non-poisonous
2.5

Safe to eat, touch, or use

How Severe

deadly venom
1 4.6
envenomation
  • Specialized
9.1
snakebite
8 3.3
bite
256 1.0
scratch
203 1.6

Surface Forms

deadly venom singular
deadly venoms plural

Morphology

deadly + venom

The meaning 'venom that is highly toxic and can cause death' is directly compositional from 'deadly' (able to kill) + 'venom' (toxic secretion); a learner who knows both words will readily infer the phrase. This adjective–noun combination follows standard English semantic composition and similar patterns in other languages, so it is immediately understandable to B1 learners.

Etymology

Deadly venom gives a clear picture: venom is the poison some animals inject, and deadly shows it is strong enough to cause death. So the phrase means a poison that can 'kill' someone if they are not treated.