intoxication

UK: /ɪnˌtɒksɪˈkeɪʃ^ən/

US: /ɪnˌtɑksɪˈkeɪʃən/

US: (in tok′si kā′shən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•tox•i•ca•tion  (in tok′si kā′shən), n. 

1. Physiology inebriation;
   drunkenness.
2. an act or instance of intoxicating.
3. overpowering exhilaration or excitement of the mind or emotions.
4. Pathology poisoning.

• Medieval Latin intoxicātiōn- (stem of intoxicātiō) a poisoning. See intoxicate, -ion
• late Middle English 1375–1425

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

intoxication / ɪnˌtɒksɪˈkeɪʃən/ noun

1. an altered state of mind produced by alcohol or a drug
2. great elation
3. the act of intoxicating
4. poisoning

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•tox•i•cate /ɪnˈtɑksɪˌkeɪt/   v., -cat•ed, -cat•ing. 

1. Physiology to affect the body's physical and mental control by means of alcoholic liquor, a drug, or another substance; to cause to become drunk: [~ + object]
   Alcohol intoxicates you faster if you weigh less.
   [no object]
   All alcohol intoxicates.
2. to make enthusiastic;
   delight;
   exhilarate:
   [~ + object] The beauty of the summer night intoxicated her.

in•tox•i•cant /ɪnˈtɑksɪkənt/  n. 

[countable] Beer is an intoxicant.

in•tox•i•ca•tion /ɪnˌtɑksɪˈkeɪʃən/  n. [uncountable] See -tox-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•tox•i•cate  (v. in tok′si kāt′;adj. in tok′sə kit, -kāt′), v., -cat•ed, -cat•ing, adj. 
v.t. 

1. Physiology to affect temporarily with diminished physical and mental control by means of alcoholic liquor, a drug, or another substance, esp. to excite or stupefy with liquor.
2. to make enthusiastic;
   elate strongly, as by intoxicants;
   exhilarate:
   The prospect of success intoxicated him.
3. Pathology to poison.

v.i. 

4. to cause or produce intoxication:
   having the power to intoxicate.

adj. 

5. [Archaic.] intoxicated.

• Medieval Latin intoxicātus, past participle of intoxicāre to poison. See in-², toxic, -ate¹
• late Middle English 1375–1425

in•tox•i•ca•ble  (in tok′si kə bəl), adj.  in•tox′i•ca′tor, n.