Arsenic (Noun)
Meaning 1
A very poisonous metallic element that has three allotropic forms; arsenic and arsenic compounds are used as herbicides and insecticides and various alloys; found in arsenopyrite and orpiment and realgar.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Related Words
Meaning 2
A white powdered poisonous trioxide of arsenic; used in manufacturing glass and as a pesticide (rat poison) and weed killer.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- The old house was found to have high levels of arsenic in the soil, likely due to the use of pesticides in the past.
- Arsenic was once commonly used as a rat poison, but its toxicity to humans has led to its decline in use.
- The glass factory used arsenic to create a specialized type of glass that was resistant to heat and corrosion.
- The weed killer contained a high concentration of arsenic, making it effective but also highly toxic to humans and animals.
- In the 19th century, arsenic was a popular ingredient in pesticides and was often used to kill rodents and other pests.