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aspirin

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Definition of aspirin

noun (plural same or aspirins)

[mass noun]

a synthetic compound used medicinally to relieve mild or chronic pain and to reduce fever and inflammation, usually taken in tablet form: she made herself some tea and took some aspirin
- Alternative name: acetylsalicylic acid; chemical formula: C₆H₄(OCOCH₃)COOH
(in general use) a tablet of any mild painkilling drug.

Origin:

late 19th century: from German, from acetylierte Spirsäure 'acetylated salicylic acid' (the element Spir- being from the plant genus name Spiraea)

Spelling help

Although it is pronounced ass-prin, remember that aspirin should be spelled with an i in the middle.

Spelling tip

if ill, take aspirin.

aspirin in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of aspirin in the US English dictionary

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