Definition

A type of plant from the Solanum genus, which includes many species, some of which can be poisonous. These plants often have berries and can be found in various forms, including herbs and shrubs.

Example

The garden was filled with beautiful nightshade plants, but I was careful not to touch them because some can be toxic.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of nightshade plants?

Yeah, I know some of them can be pretty dangerous.

Exactly! I read that belladonna is one of the most toxic types of nightshade.

It's fascinating how some of them are also used in cooking, like eggplants.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Nightshade → The word is formed from "night" (from Old English "niht", meaning the period of darkness) and "shade" (from Old English "sceadu", meaning shadow or protection). Together, these parts describe a plant that thrives in the darkness or is associated with the night.

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'night' representing darkness and 'shade' as a shadow or protection, which helps you remember that 'nightshade' refers to plants that grow in the dark or are linked to nighttime.

Visually Confused Words