2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you consider something from a particular point of view , you are using one aspect of a situation in order to judge that situation. □ Do you think that, from the point of view of results, this exercise was worth the cost?
pointy /pɔ I nti/ (pointier , pointiest ) ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is pointy has a point at one end. [INFORMAL ] □ …a pointy little beard.
poise /pɔ I z/
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft poss N ] If someone has poise , they are calm, dignified, and self-controlled. □ It took a moment for Mark to recover his poise.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Poise is a graceful, very controlled way of standing and moving. □ Ballet classes are important for poise and grace.
poised /pɔ I zd/
1 ADJ If a part of your body is poised , it is completely still but ready to move at any moment. □ He studied the keyboard carefully, one finger poised.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ , usu ADJ to-inf] If someone is poised to do something, they are ready to take action at any moment. □ Britain was poised to fly medical staff to the country at short notice. □ [+ for ] U.S. forces are poised for a massive air, land and sea assault.
3 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are poised , you are calm, dignified, and self-controlled. □ Rachel appeared poised and calm.
poi|son /pɔ I z ə n/ (poisons , poisoning , poisoned )
1 N‑VAR Poison is a substance that harms or kills people or animals if they swallow it or absorb it. □ Poison from the weaver fish causes paralysis, swelling, and nausea. □ Mercury is a known poison.
2 VERB If someone poisons another person, they kill the person or make them ill by giving them poison. □ [V n] The rumours that she had poisoned him could never be proved. ● poi|son|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ She was sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment for poisoning and attempted murder.
3 VERB If you are poisoned by a substance, it makes you very ill and sometimes kills you. □ [be V -ed + by ] Employees were taken to hospital yesterday after being poisoned by fumes. □ [V n] Toxic waste could endanger lives and poison fish. ● poi|son|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ His illness was initially diagnosed as food poisoning.
4 VERB If someone poisons a food, drink, or weapon, they add poison to it so that it can be used to kill someone. □ [V n] They considered poisoning his food. ● poi|soned ADJ □ He was terrified to eat, suspecting that the food was poisoned. □ …an umbrella tipped with a poisoned dart.
5 VERB To poison water, air, or land means to damage it with harmful substances such as chemicals. □ [V n] The land has been completely poisoned by chemicals. □ [V -ed] …dying forests, poisoned rivers and lakes.
6 VERB Something that poisons a good situation or relationship spoils it or destroys it. □ [be V -ed] The whole atmosphere has really been poisoned. □ [V n] …ill-feeling that will poison further talk of a common foreign policy.
poi|son|er /pɔ I zənə r / (poisoners ) N‑COUNT A poisoner is someone who has killed or harmed another person by using poison. □ Soon they were dead, victims of a mysterious poisoner.
poi |son gas N‑UNCOUNT Poison gas is a gas that is poisonous and is usually used to kill people in war or to execute criminals.
poi |son i vy N‑UNCOUNT Poison ivy is a wild plant that grows in North America and that causes a rash or skin problems if you touch it.
poi|son|ous /pɔ I z ə nəs/
1 ADJ Something that is poisonous will kill you or make you ill if you swallow or absorb it. □ …a large cloud of poisonous gas.
2 ADJ An animal that is poisonous produces a poison that will kill you or make you ill if the animal bites you. □ There are hundreds of poisonous spiders and snakes.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something as poisonous , you mean that it is extremely unpleasant and likely to spoil or destroy a good relationship or situation. □ …poisonous comments.
poi son-pe n let|ter (poison-pen letters ) N‑COUNT A poison-pen letter is an unpleasant unsigned letter which is sent in order to upset someone or to cause trouble.
poi |son pi ll (poison pills ) N‑COUNT A poison pill refers to what some companies do to reduce their value in order to prevent themselves being taken over by another company. [BUSINESS ]
poke /poʊ k/ (pokes , poking , poked )
1 VERB If you poke someone or something, you quickly push them with your finger or with a sharp object. □ [V n] Lindy poked him in the ribs. ● N‑COUNT Poke is also a noun. □ John smiled at them and gave Richard a playful poke.
2 VERB If you poke one thing into another, you push the first thing into the second thing. □ [V n + into ] He poked his finger into the hole.
3 VERB If something pokes out of or through another thing, you can see part of it appearing from behind or underneath the other thing. □ [V + out of ] He saw the dog's twitching nose poke out of the basket. □ [V + through ] His fingers poked through the worn tips of his gloves.
4 VERB If you poke your head through an opening or if it pokes through an opening, you push it through, often so that you can see something more easily. □ [V n adv/prep] Julie tapped on my door and poked her head in. □ [V prep/adv] Raymond's head poked through the doorway.
5 to poke fun at → see fun