poison ivy

noun

Definition of poison ivy

1a : a climbing plant (Toxicodendron radicans synonym Rhus radicans) of the cashew family that is especially common in the eastern and central U.S., that has ternate leaves, greenish flowers, and white berries, and that produces an irritating oil causing a usually intensely itching skin rash

b : any of several plants closely related to poison ivy

2 : a skin rash caused by poison ivy

Examples of poison ivy in a Sentence

I got poison ivy all over my arm.

Recent Examples on the Web Over at the Pearson family cabin in present day, Rebecca and Miguel are tending to their new garden—small but important detail: Rebecca has poison ivy—but Rebecca is sad Randall won't be celebrating his 40th with them. — Jessica Radloff, Glamour, "This Is Us Season Five, Episode 1, Premiere Recap: Let's Talk About That Ending," 28 Oct. 2020 At the time, the former brick stronghold was crumbling and had become invaded with Virginia creeper, poison ivy and other vines that were growing through and around it. — Kim Chatelain | Contributing Writer, NOLA.com, "City saving, renovating old Mandeville jail near Lake Pontchartrain," 11 Oct. 2020 According to Rent-A-Ruminant Texas, these breeds are all effective at reducing brush overgrowth, green briars, poison ivy, ragweed and other undesirable plant species. — Ryan Nickerson, Houston Chronicle, "Houston Arboretum bringing in more than 120 goats next month," 15 Sep. 2020 Much of it is worn to ward off the ill effects of poison ivy and many other invasive species that have taken root along the shoreline. — Thomas Jewell, cleveland, "Friends of Lower Shaker Lake work to restore Shaker Heights’ natural beauty," 1 Sep. 2020 From zombie cicadas and super poison ivy to the raging coronavirus pandemic, 2020 has often felt a bit like, well, a nightmare. — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, "Rejoice! The Great British Baking Show Set to Return This Year," 25 Aug. 2020 Milk baths can also treat some frequent ailments, including sunburns and poison ivy rashes. — Dori Price, Good Housekeeping, "How to Take a Milk Bath for Quick Skin-Softening Benefits," 18 Aug. 2020 Burning poison ivy, intentionally or not, can produce fumes that irritate the throat and lungs. — cleveland, "Poison ivy and other pesky plants can turn summer fun into a season of suffering," 30 June 2020 Some important warnings: Never chop big poison ivy vines, and never burn any parts of the plants. — Howard Garrett, Dallas News, "Remedies abound for poison ivy rash," 29 June 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'poison ivy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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“Poison ivy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poison%20ivy. Accessed 20 Apr. 2021.

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More Definitions for poison ivy

poison ivy

noun

English Language Learners Definition of poison ivy

: a common plant in the central and eastern U.S. that has leaves which cause a very itchy and painful rash on your skin if you touch them

: the rash that is caused by poison ivy

See the full definition for poison ivy in the English Language Learners Dictionary

poison ivy

noun

Kids Definition of poison ivy

1 : a usually climbing plant that has leaves with three leaflets and can cause an itchy painful rash when touched

2 : a skin rash caused by poison ivy

poison ivy

noun

\ -ˈī-vē

Medical Definition of poison ivy

1a : a climbing plant of the genus Rhus (R. radicans synonym Toxicodendron radicans) that is especially common in the eastern and central United States, that has leaves in groups of three, greenish flowers, and white berries, and that produces an acutely irritating oil causing a usually intensely itching skin rash

b : any of several plants closely related to poison ivy especially : poison oak sense 1b

2 : a skin rash produced by poison ivy