stramonium

noun

stra·mo·ni·um strə-ˈmō-nē-əm

: the dried leaves of the jimsonweed or of a related plant (genus Datura) that contain toxic alkaloids (such as atropine) used in medicine

: jimsonweed

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web While that sounds innocent enough, Datura stramonium, as it is known in the scientific world, belongs to the deadly nightshade family and contains high levels of anti-cholinergic alkaloids such as scopolamine, hyoscyamine and atropine. —

Matt Kaplan, Discover Magazine, 20 Jan. 2015 This looks like jimsonweed (Datura stramonium), also called thorn apple because of its spiky fruit. —

oregonlive, 5 Oct. 2019 According to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Jimson weed, also called Datura stramonium, blooms in the late summer and is toxic. —

Fox News, 10 Sep. 2019

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

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of stramonium was in 1663

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Stramonium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stramonium. Accessed 23 Mar. 2023.

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Medical Definition

stramonium

noun

stra·mo·ni·um strə-ˈmō-nē-əm

: the dried leaves of the jimsonweed (Datura stramonium) or of a related plant of the genus Datura containing the anticholinergic and antispasmodic alkaloids atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine and used especially formerly in the treatment of asthma and parkinsonism

: jimsonweed