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Definition of "rotenone" [ro•te•none]

  • A white crystalline compound, C23H22O6, extracted from the roots of derris and cubé and used as an insecticide. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "rotenone" in a sentence
  • "A toxin called rotenone would first exterminate non-native fish from the nine-mile creek section—an idea that rankles some local anglers—under a proposal by state and federal biologists."
  • "The poison, called rotenone, isn't scheduled to be dumped into the canal until after dark."
  • "The fish poison, called rotenone, will be dumped into the canal just above the barrier on Dec. 3."