Phrase guide

nux vomica

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A strychnine tree (Strychnos nux-vomica), an evergreen tree found in southeastern Asia.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: poison-nut, vomit nut, vomiting nut

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The fruit of Strychnos nux-vomica, which contains strychnine and brucine.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: poison nut, vomit nut

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A preparation made from the fruit of Strychnos nux-vomica, traditionally used as a stimulant.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

a medicine made from the seeds of an Asiatic tree; contains strychnine and brucine; formerly used as a stimulant

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: medicine, medication, medicament, medicinal drug

History

Etymology

From Latin nux (“nut”) and vomica (“vomiting”).

Across languages

Translations

27 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: جَوْز الْقَيْء (jawz al-qayʔ) — strychnine tree
  • Catalan: nou vòmica — strychnine tree
  • Danish: rævekage — strychnine tree
  • Dutch: braaknotenboom — strychnine tree
  • Dutch: braaknoot — strychnine tree
  • Finnish: strykniinipuu — strychnine tree
  • French: vomiquier — strychnine tree
  • German: Brechnuss — strychnine tree
  • Punjabi: ਕੁਚਲਾ (kuclā) — strychnine tree
  • Russian: чилибуха (čilibuxa) — strychnine tree
  • Russian: рво́тный оре́х (rvótnyj oréx) — strychnine tree
  • Spanish: nuez vómica — strychnine tree
  • Swedish: rävkaketräd — strychnine tree
  • Tamil: எட்டி மரம் (eṭṭi maram) — strychnine tree
  • Telugu: ముషిడి (muṣiḍi) — strychnine tree
  • Turkish: kargabüken — strychnine tree
  • Vietnamese: mã tiền — strychnine tree
  • Arabic: جَوْز الْقَيْء (jawz al-qayʔ) — fruit of the strychnine tree
  • Catalan: nou vòmica — fruit of the strychnine tree
  • Dutch: braaknoot — fruit of the strychnine tree
  • Finnish: strykniinipuun hedelmä — fruit of the strychnine tree
  • French: noix vomique — fruit of the strychnine tree
  • German: Brechnuss — fruit of the strychnine tree
  • Irish: múisc-chnó — fruit of the strychnine tree
  • Spanish: nuez vómica — fruit of the strychnine tree
  • Swedish: rävkaketrädets frukt — fruit of the strychnine tree
  • Turkish: kargabüken — fruit of the strychnine tree