Definitions

1. noun

A plant of the genus Conium, particularly Conium maculatum, having a poisonous root and a purple or white flower; also, the plant’s toxic juice or extract.

“The hikers had to avoid the hemlock in the forest, as it’s highly poisonous.”

2. noun

A type of poisonous plant or substance, especially one that is fatal in small doses.

“The doctor warned the patient to avoid any hemlock that might be present in the herbal remedy.”

3. adjective

Used to describe something as being deadly or poisonous, often in a metaphorical sense.

“The king’s life was a hemlock to his enemies, who sought to bring him down.”

4. proper noun

A city in the United States, known for being the site of the execution of Lizzie Borden’s parents in 1893.

“Hemlock, Wisconsin, is a small town with a dark history.”