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Glite Dictionary
iodoform

iodoform

1 9.9
A yellow solid with a strong medical smell used to stop infection on wounds
  • noun
  • /ˈaɪdəˌfɔrm/
  • Specialized
: iodoformo
  • In the surgery, they used iodoform gauze to dress the wound.

Examples

  • The strong smell of iodoform filled the room, indicating its use as an antiseptic.

  • The wound was thoroughly irrigated with normal saline and packed with iodoform gauze.

    Academic text (2004)

  • The doctor applied iodoform to the cut to prevent infection.

Synonyms

triiodomethane
vsiodoform
  • Specialized
9.9

A yellow solid chemical with a strong medical smell used to prevent infection

is the common familiar name rather than the systematic chemical name
tri-iodomethane
vsiodoform
  • Specialized
9.9

A yellow chemical solid with a sweet smell used to stop infection and test chemicals

has a strong medicinal smell instead of a sweet scent

Surface Forms

iodoform singular
iodoforms plural

Morphology

iodoform = form (opaque) = iodo + form

Although formed from 'iodo-' (indicating iodine) + 'form', the term refers to a specific iodine-containing chemical compound, a specialized meaning not deducible by a typical learner from the parts.

Etymology

Iodoform combines iodo-, from iodine whose name comes from a Greek word for 'violet', and -form, meaning 'shape' or 'made of'. So iodoform literally means a substance 'made with iodine', which explains its strong medicinal smell and why it was used to stop infection.