Standard Lemma guide

wolfsbane

noun · 3 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈwʊlfsbeɪn/

1

noun

Meaning 1

Any of several poisonous perennial herbs of the genus Aconitum.

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

2

noun

Meaning 2

Arnica montana.

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

3

noun

Meaning 3

poisonous Eurasian perennial herb with broad rounded leaves and yellow flowers and fibrous rootstock

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: wolfbane, wolf's bane, Aconitum lycoctonum

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: aconite

History

Etymology

From wolf + -s- + bane, a calque of Ancient Greek λυκοκτόνον (lukoktónon), from λύκος (lúkos, “wolf”) + κτείνω (kteínō, “to kill”). Influenced by Latin lycoctonum.