poison ivy

1. A North American shrub or vine (Toxicodendron radicans) that has compound leaves with three leaflets, small green flowers, and whitish berries and that causes a rash on contact.

2. A skin rash caused by contact with this plant. In both senses also called poison oak.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

poison ivy

(Plants) any of several North American anacardiaceous shrubs or vines of the genus Rhus (or Toxicodendron), esp R. radicans, which has small green flowers and whitish berries that cause an itching rash on contact. See also sumach¹

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

poi′son i′vy

1. a vine or shrub, Rhus radicans, of the cashew family, with trifoliate leaves and whitish berries: may cause allergic dermatitis when touched.

2. poison oak.

3. the rash caused by touching poison ivy.

[1775–85, Amer.]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	poison ivy - dermatitis resulting from contact with the poison ivy plant; "my poison ivy is drying up" Rhus dermatitis - contact dermatitis resulting from contact with plants of the genus Toxicodendron
	2.	poison ivy - climbing plant common in eastern and central United States with ternate leaves and greenish flowers followed by white berries; yields an irritating oil that causes a rash on contact markweed, poison mercury, Rhus radicans, Toxicodendron radicans, poison oak genus Toxicodendron, Toxicodendron - in some classifications: comprising those members of the genus Rhus having foliage that is poisonous to the touch; of North America and northern South America poisonous plant - a plant that when touched or ingested in sufficient quantity can be harmful or fatal to an organism

Translations

poison ivy

n → edera del Canada

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

poison ivy

n (bot) hiedra venenosa

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

"Caesar had his Brutus--the cotton has its boliworm, the chorus girl has her Pittsburger, the summer boarder has his poison ivy, the hero has his Carnegie medal, art has its Morgan, the rose has its--"

At last the bollworm had attacked the cotton--the poison ivy was reaching out its tendrils to entwine the summer boarder--the millionaire lumberman, thinly disguised as the Alaskan miner, was about to engulf our Milly and upset Nature's adjustment.

View in context

According to Poison-Ivy.org, a website which also provided information about poison oak and poison sumac, the rash from poison ivy may first appear as just a slight itchy spot.

Hey, is that poison ivy? Plants

Along with Tecnu Original Outdoor Cleanser and Licefree, the company manufactures Tecnu Extreme Poison Ivy Scrub, a fast-acting poison ivy scrub that works in 15 seconds; Tecnu Rash Relief Spray with scar prevention, a homeopathic anti-itch spray that can be applied without having to touch the rash; and Calagel Medicated Anti-itch Gel, a steroid-free treatment that relieves the itching, dries the oozing and reduces the swelling from poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac rash.

Tec Labs continues to provide solutions

Jessica chastain could be the perfect poison ivy but NO SHES gonna be in xmen I CANT pic.twitter.com/xISqdtDgyP

Jessica Chastain joins the cast of X-Men

An informal survey of 10 clinician members of the Oklahoma Physicians Resource/Research Network (OKPRN), a statewide practice-based research network, suggested that primary care clinicians treat between one and 10 patients with poison ivy each week during the spring, summer, and fall (median 2.5).

Poison ivy: how effective are available treatments?

The only place was behind the barn and, there was poison ivy so we removed it.

Poison ivy remover: Helaine Hughes

Sarah Wallner Celebrity Stylist saw a trend with Poison Ivy's character popping up everywhere.

Musotica.com Releases Sexy New Poison Ivy Halloween Costumes

Writer and environmental educator Anita Sanchez uses children's inherent interest in animals to create a fascinating page-turner with leaflets three, let it be: the story of poison ivy. Sanchez shares the overwhelmingly beneficial qualities of this vine, while cautioning readers about its potential danger.

Leaflets three, let it be: the story of poison ivy

But The Silver surfer, Wonder Woman and Poison Ivy still look in pretty good shape.

We're in a fantasy world.

Once you've experienced a poison ivy rash, you won't likely forget it.

Ditch the itch: learn what you need to know to avoid the undesirable poison ivy rash, and it'll never deter you from the outdoors again