Definition of Belladonna

1. Noun. Perennial Eurasian herb with reddish bell-shaped flowers and shining black berries; extensively grown in United States; roots and leaves yield atropine.

Exact synonyms: Atropa Belladonna, Belladonna Plant, Deadly Nightshade
Generic synonyms: Herb, Herbaceous Plant
Group relationships: Atropa, Genus Atropa

2. Noun. An alkaloidal extract or tincture of the poisonous belladonna plant that is used medicinally.
Generic synonyms: Atropine

Definition of Belladonna

1. n. An herbaceous European plant (Atropa belladonna) with reddish bell-shaped flowers and shining black berries. The whole plant and its fruit are very poisonous, and the root and leaves are used as powerful medicinal agents. Its properties are largely due to the alkaloid atropine which it contains. Called also deadly nightshade.

Definition of Belladonna

1. Noun. a plant, ''Atropa belladonna'', having purple bell-shaped flowers and poisonous black glossy berries; deadly nightshade ¹

2. Noun. an alkaloid extracted from this plant, sometimes used medicinally, containing atropine ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Belladonna

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Belladonna

1. An herbaceous European plant (Atropa belladonna) with reddish bell-shaped flowers and shining black berries. The whole plant and its fruit are very poisonous, and the root and leaves are used as powerful medicinal agents. Its properties are largely due to the alkaloid atropine which it contains. Called also deadly nightshade. A species of Amaryllis (A. Belladonna); the belladonna lily. Origin: It, literally fine lady; bella beautiful + donna lady. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Belladonna

bell ringer
bell ringers
bell ringing
bell rope
bell ropes
bell seat
bell shape
bell sound
bell stage
bell tent
bell the cat
bell toad
bell tower
bell towers
bella sombra
belladonna (current term)
belladonna alkaloid
belladonna alkaloids
belladonna extract
belladonna lily
belladonna ophthalmologic
belladonna tincture
belladonnas
belladonnine
bellarmine
bellbergite
bellbind
bellbinds
bellbird
bellbirds

Literary usage of Belladonna

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. American Druggist (1887)
"Standardized Preparations of belladonna. In a recent paper by Prof. Dunstan and Mr. Francis Ransom, read before the Pharm. ..."

2. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences by Southern Society for Clinical Investigation (U.S.) (1893)
"A CASE OF POISONING BY A belladonna PLASTER. BY ERNEST E. MADDOX, MD EDIN., ... 7 D. Feeling sure that belladonna must be accountable for the symptoms, ..."

3. A Handbook of therapeutics by Sydney Ringer (1897)
"Dr. Horatio Wood has shown that the local application of belladonna does not dilate ... Stramonium and hyoscyamus, as well as belladonna, have very little ..."

4. Epilepsy and Other Chronic Convulsive Diseases: Their Causes, Symptoms, and by William Richard Gowers (1901)
"Bromide alone, and with belladonna, lessened a little the frequency of the attacks ... Digitalis was then substituted for the belladonna, with the effect of ..."

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