nightshade /ˈnaɪt.ʃeɪd/ noun4 •Any of the poisonous plants belonging to the genus Solanum, especially black nightshade or woody nightshade. •Belladonna or deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna). •(informal) Any plant of the wider Solanaceae family, including the nightshades as well as tomato, potato, eggplant, and deadly nightshade. •Any of several plants likened to nightshade, usually because of similar dark-colored berries. formsnightshades