IPA: //ˈpærəkwɒt//
KK: /ˈpærəkwɑt/
A chemical substance that is used to kill unwanted plants and weeds, known for being very toxic.
Farmers often use paraquat to control weeds in their fields.
Paraquat is derived from the combination of 'para-' (meaning alongside or beyond) and 'quat' (from quaternary ammonium compounds, referring to a type of chemical structure). The term describes a chemical compound that acts as a herbicide, functioning alongside or beyond typical herbicides.
Think of 'para-' meaning alongside and 'quat' relating to a specific type of chemical structure, which helps you remember that paraquat is a chemical used alongside other herbicides.