curare noun. [kjʊ'rɑ:ri] L18.
[(Spanish & Portuguese from) Carib word repr. also by WOURALI.]
A resinous bitter substance obtained from the bark and stems of various tropical and subtropical S. American plants of the genus Strychnos, esp. the vine S. toxifera, and from the similar Chondrodendron tomentosum, which paralyses the motor nerves and was formerly used as an arrow poison by S. American Indians and in surgery etc. to relax the muscles.
fig.:
■ P. Ackroyd The lethargy of the will, the curare that annihilates the nervous elements of thought and motion.

■ 'curarine noun an alkaloid obtained from curare (now replaced in medicine by tubocurarine) M19.

■ curari'zation noun the action or process of curarizing; the state of being curarized: L19.

■ 'curarize verb trans. administer curare to; produce temporary paralysis in by the administration of curarine or a drug with similar action: L19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲