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curare

curare
Noun

Curare refers specifically to a class of alkaloids used as muscle relaxants. In a historical and anthropological context, it is associated with the traditional hunting practices of indigenous Amazonian tribes, where it is applied to darts to immobilize prey without killing the animal instantly through organ failure, but rather through respiratory paralysis.

In a medical context, derivatives of curare were historically used in anesthesia to prevent muscle spasms during surgery. Because it is a chemical substance and a specific type of toxin, it is treated as an uncountable mass noun; one does not refer to "curares" but rather to "amounts of curare" or "curare preparations."

Meanings

Nouncurare

A potent toxin derived from certain South American plants, used by indigenous peoples to coat blowgun darts for hunting, which causes paralysis by blocking neuromuscular transmission.

Examples

The indigenous tribes of the Amazon use curare to immobilize their prey.

History

He wondered if the dart was tipped with curare.

He wondered if the dart was tipped with curare.

Detective

Curare acts by blocking the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction.

Health

The hunter carefully applied a layer of curare to the tip of the blowgun dart.

The hunter carefully applied a layer of curare to the tip of the blowgun dart.

History

Is curare actually lethal if it does not enter the bloodstream?

Trivia

Early medical researchers studied curare to develop muscle relaxants for surgery.

Early medical researchers studied curare to develop muscle relaxants for surgery.

Health

The toxin known as curare causes total skeletal muscle paralysis.

Trivia

I can't believe they used curare for hunting in the rainforest.

I can't believe they used curare for hunting in the rainforest.

Travel

A small dose of curare is enough to stop a monkey from moving.

A small dose of curare is enough to stop a monkey from moving.

Trivia

Related Words

Última atualização: May 2026Reportar um erro