ERGOTISM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ergotism mean? 

• ERGOTISM (noun)
  The noun ERGOTISM has 1 sense:

1. poisoning by ingestion of ergot-infected grain products; characterized by thirst and diarrhea and nausea and cramping and vomiting and abnormal cardiac rhythms; in severe cases it can cause seizures and gangrene of the limbs

  Familiarity information: ERGOTISM used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ERGOTISM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Poisoning by ingestion of ergot-infected grain products; characterized by thirst and diarrhea and nausea and cramping and vomiting and abnormal cardiac rhythms; in severe cases it can cause seizures and gangrene of the limbs

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("ergotism" is a kind of...):

intoxication; poisoning; toxic condition (the physiological state produced by a poison or other toxic substance)