meaning - Is a snake's venom poisonous (or venomous)?


This is a question more concerning the word poisonous and venomous than poison vs. venom.


I'm wondering about the following, specifically the last sentence:



  • Don't eat the plant, it is poisonous.

  • The plant has dripped poison onto you. Be careful, the liquid is poisonous.

  • The snake is venomous.

  • The snake has been milked to help us create an antidote. Be careful, the contents of the jar are poisonous (or should it be venomous?).


Can you use poisonous and venomous to describe both the creature/plant AND the substance it produces?



Answer




Poison is absorbed or ingested; a poisonous animal can only deliver toxic chemicals if another animal touches or eats it.


Venom, on the other hand, is always injected. Every venomous animal has a mechanism to inject toxins directly into another animal. Stab with tails. Slash with spines. Pierce with fangs or stings. Spike with spurs. Shoot with harpoons. Chew with teeth.-http://www.diffen.com/difference/Poison_vs_Venom




  • Don't eat the plant, it is poisonous. -correct

  • The plant has dripped poison onto you. Be careful, the liquid is poisonous. -correct

  • The snake is venomous. -correct

  • The snake has been milked to help us create an antidote. Be careful, the contents of the jar are poisonous. -correct and not venomous



What is the difference between poison and venom? If you drink venom, will it kill you?


skull and cross bones: poison are substances that are toxic (cause harm) if swallowed or inhaled. Venoms are generally not toxic if swallowed, and must be injected under the skin (by snakes, spiders, etc.) into the tissues that are normally protected by skin in order to be toxic. However, we do NOT recommend drinking venom! -http://ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/venomous_snake_faqs.shtml



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