1
: a tall tropical Asian tree (Antiaris toxicaria) of the mulberry family with a latex that contains poisonous glycosides used as an arrow poison
also : a poisonous concentrate of the juice or latex of a upas
2
: a poisonous or harmful influence or institution

Examples of upas in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The deadly upas, root and branch, leaf and fibre, body and sap, must be utterly destroyed. Frederick Douglass, The Atlantic, 16 Aug. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Indonesian Malay pohon upas poison tree

First Known Use

1814, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of upas was in 1814

Dictionary Entries Near upas

Cite this Entry

“Upas.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upas. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!