intoxicate

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adjective in·tox·i·cate \in-ˈtäk-si-kət\

Definition of intoxicate

archaic

: intoxicated 1

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First Known Use of intoxicate

1581

intoxicate

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verb in·tox·i·cate \in-ˈtäk-sə-ˌkāt\

Definition of intoxicate

intoxicated

;

intoxicating

transitive verb
1 : poison
2a : to excite or stupefy by alcohol or a drug especially to the point where physical and mental control is markedly diminishedb : to excite or elate to the point of enthusiasm or frenzy

See intoxicate defined for English-language learners

See intoxicate defined for kids

Examples of intoxicate in a Sentence

The little bit of beer I drank was not enough to intoxicate me.
the stunning spectacle of this Las Vegas show is sure to intoxicate spectators

Did You Know?

For those who think that alcohol and drugs qualify as poisons, the history of intoxicate offers some etymological evidence to bolster your argument. Intoxicate traces back to toxicum, the Latin word for "poison" - and the earliest meaning of intoxicate was just that: "to poison." This sense is now extremely rare, and we currently talk about such harmless things as flowers and perfume having the power to intoxicate. Toxicum turns up in the etymologies of a number of other English words including toxic ("poisonous"), intoxicant ("something that intoxicates") and detoxify ("to remove a poison from"), as well as a number of the names for various poisons themselves.

Origin and Etymology of intoxicate

Middle English, from Medieval Latin intoxicatus, past participle of intoxicare, from Latin in- + toxicum poison — more at toxic

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First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

INTOXICATE Defined for English Language Learners

intoxicate

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verb

Definition of intoxicate for English Language Learners

of alcohol, a drug, etc. : to make (someone) unable to think and behave normally
: to excite or please (someone) in a way that suggests the effect of alcohol or a drug

INTOXICATE Defined for Kids

intoxicate

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verb in·tox·i·cate \in-ˈtäk-sə-ˌkāt\

Definition of intoxicate for Students

intoxicated

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intoxicating

1 : to affect by alcohol or a drug especially so that normal thinking and acting becomes difficult or impossible : make drunk
2 : to make wildly excited or enthusiastic Intoxicated as he was with the heavens, he couldn't imagine needing anything on earth. — Katherine Paterson, Bridge to Terabithia

Medical Dictionary

intoxicate

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transitive verb in·tox·i·cate \-sə-ˌkāt\

Medical Definition of intoxicate

intoxicated

;

intoxicating

1: poison
2: to excite or stupefy by alcohol or a drug especially to the point where physical and mental control is markedly diminished

Law Dictionary

intoxicate

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transitive verb in·tox·i·cate \in-ˈtäk-sə-ˌkāt\

Legal Definition of intoxicate

intoxicated

intoxicating

: to excite or stupefy by alcohol or a drug especially to the point where physical and mental control is markedly diminished — see also driving under the influence