Nightshade

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈnaɪtʃeɪd/

Origin

Old English nihtscada, apparently corresponding to night + shade.

Full definition of nightshade

Noun

1. (botany) Any of the poisonous plants belonging to the genus Solanum, especially black nightshade or woody nightshade.
2. (botany, colloquial) Any plant of the wider Solanaceae family, including the nightshades as well as tomato, potato, eggplant, and deadly nightshade.
3. Belladonna or deadly nightshade, Atropa belladonna.
4. Any of several plants likened to nightshade, usually because of similar dark-colored berries.

Derived terms