Poison oak

Poison oak
: Poison oak is a form of "contact dermatitis" or inflammation of the skin resulting from chemicals produced from the poison oak plant contacting the skin. The chemicals cause an immune reaction producing redness, itching and blistering of the skin.

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poison oak -'ōk n
1) any of several plants included in the genus Rhus or sometimes in the genus Toxicodendron that produce an irritating oil like that of poison ivy:
a) a bushy plant (R. diversiloba syn. T. diversilobum) of the Pacific coast
b) a bushy plant (R. toxicodendron syn. T. pubescens) of the southeastern U.S.
2) POISON IVY (1a)
3) a skin rash produced by poison oak

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1. either of two species of Rhus; R. diversiloba is the western poison oak and R. toxicodendron is the eastern poison oak. A variant of the latter, called Atlantic poison oak, is found in the southeastern United States. 2. name sometimes given to Rhus radicans (poison ivy) when it is freestanding and shrublike.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Poison oak — Poison Poi son, n. [F. poison, in Old French also, a potion, fr. L. potio a drink, draught, potion, a poisonous draught, fr. potare to drink. See {Potable}, and cf. {Potion}.] 1. Any agent which, when introduced into the animal organism, is… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • poison oak — Poison Poi son, n. [F. poison, in Old French also, a potion, fr. L. potio a drink, draught, potion, a poisonous draught, fr. potare to drink. See {Potable}, and cf. {Potion}.] 1. Any agent which, when introduced into the animal organism, is… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Poison oak — Oak Oak ([=o]k), n. [OE. oke, ok, ak, AS. [=a]c; akin to D. eik, G. eiche, OHG. eih, Icel. eik, Sw. ek, Dan. eeg.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Bot.) Any tree or shrub of the genus {Quercus}. The oaks have alternate leaves, often variously lobed, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • poison oak — ☆ poison oak n. poison sumac or any of various poison ivy plants (esp. Rhus toxicodendron and R. diversiloba) …   English World dictionary

  • poison oak — n [U] a North American plant with leaves similar to an ↑oak tree s, that makes your skin hurt and ↑itch if you touch it …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • poison oak — noun uncount a plant of the western U.S. that makes your skin red and painful if you touch it …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • poison oak — noun 1. dermatitis resulting from contact with a poison oak plant • Hypernyms: ↑Rhus dermatitis 2. climbing plant common in eastern and central United States with ternate leaves and greenish flowers followed by white berries; yields an irritating …   Useful english dictionary

  • poison oak — either of two shrubs, Rhus toxicodendron, of the eastern U.S., or R. diversiloba, of the Pacific coast of North America, resembling poison ivy and causing severe dermatitis when touched by persons sensitive to them. Also called poison ivy. [1735… …   Universalium

  • Poison oak — The name Poison oak refers to various species of the genus Toxicodendron that grow in North America:* Western Poison oak ( Toxicodendron diversilobum or Rhus diversiloba ), found only on the Pacific Coast of North America, ranging from southern… …   Wikipedia

  • poison oak extract — an extract of the fresh leaves of poison oak (Rhus diversiloba), used for desensitization in prevention of rhus dermatitis due to poison oak …   Medical dictionary

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