ipecacuanha
1
9.9
A tropical plant whose root is used to make a medicine that makes someone vomit
- noun
- /ˌɪpɪkəˈkwænə/
- Specialized
:
ipecacuana
- Most of his plants had withered in his absence, although some of the ipecacuanha survived.
Examples
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Ipecacuanha is commonly used in medicine to induce vomiting in cases of poisoning.
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In emergencies, ipecacuanha can be administered to help expel harmful substances from the stomach.
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The doctor recommended ipecacuanha for its effectiveness in treating accidental overdoses.
Surface Forms
ipecacuanha singular
ipecacuanhas plural
Etymology
Ipecacuanha comes from a Tupi word in Brazil meaning 'something that makes you vomit'. The local people used the plant's root as a medicine to make someone vomit, so the name now also refers to the tropical plant whose root is used for that purpose.