nerve gas

noun

1. any of several poison gases, derived chiefly from phosphoric acid, that weaken or paralyze the nervous system, especially that part of the system controlling respiration.

nerve gas

noun

1. (esp in chemical warfare) any of various poisonous gases that have a potentially fatal paralysing effect on the central nervous system

nerve gas

1. Any of various poisonous gases that interfere with the functioning of nerves by inhibiting the breakdown of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Increased levels of acetylcholine stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, leading to cardiac and respiratory arrest.

Word History and Origins

Origin of nerve gas¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

The potential for wider terrorist threats was considered most likely to come from chemical or biological attacks - "the main risks identified here are anthrax, smallpox, botulism and nerve gases such as sarin", the file said.

From BBC

They showed they could dye a military uniform black with the melanin, and that it would absorb the nerve gas.

From Science Daily

Two earlier cases involved criminal charges — the Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult, which carried out a sarin nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway, and the Myokakuji group, whose executives were convicted of fraud.

From Seattle Times

Two earlier cases involved criminal charges — the Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult, which was behind a sarin nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway, and the Myokakuji group, whose executives were convicted of fraud.

From Seattle Times

An AI trained on pharmaceutical data in 2022 to design non-toxic chemicals had its sign flipped and quickly came up with recipes for nerve gas and 40,000 other lethal compounds.

From Salon

Related Words

• mustard gas
• poison gas
• tear gas