Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

ipecac

Syllabification: (ip·e·cac)
Pronunciation: /ˈipikak/

(also ipecacuanha /ˌipiˌkak(y)o͞oˈan(y)ə, ēˌpākə-/)
Definition of ipecac

noun

  • 1the dried rhizome of a South American shrub, or a drug prepared from this, used as an emetic and expectorant.
  • 2the shrub of the bedstraw family that produces ipecac, native to Brazil and cultivated elsewhere.
    • Cephaelis ipecacuanha, family Rubiaceae
  • used in names of other plants with uses similar to ipecac, e.g., American ipecac (Gillenia trifoliata, family Rosaceae).

Origin:

early 17th century: from Portuguese, from Tupi-Guarani ipekaaguéne 'emetic creeper', from ipe 'small' + kaa 'leaves' + guéne 'vomit'

ipecac in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of ipecac in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

  |  Cite

More words in this category

Word of the day

leporine

/ ˈlɛpərʌɪn /
adjective
of or resembling a hare or hares …