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Glite Dictionary
astringent drug

astringent drug

6.9
A medicine that makes body tissues tighten to reduce bleeding or discharge
  • noun
  • /əˈstrɪn.dʒənt drʌg/
  • Specialized
translation icon : fármaco astringente
  • The doctor applied an astringent drug to stop the minor bleeding.

Examples

  • The doctor prescribed an astringent drug to help with the bleeding.

  • Some over-the-counter creams contain an astringent drug to help reduce inflammation.

  • An astringent drug can be useful in treating certain types of skin irritation.

  • Is an astringent drug effective for treating wounds?

  • The doctor applied an astringent drug to stop the minor bleeding.

  • Some over-the-counter creams contain an astringent drug to help reduce inflammation.

  • An astringent drug can be useful in treating certain types of skin irritation.

Synonyms

astringent
vsastringent drug
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A substance that tightens skin and stops small bleeding

is used more widely for bleeding and fluid loss from body canals
styptic
vsastringent drug
  • Specialized
9.9

A substance that stops bleeding on small cuts by making small blood vessels close

aims to reduce bleeding and discharge, not only to stop bleeding

How Astringent

styptic
  • Specialized
9.9
astringent drug
  • Specialized
6.9
coagulant
  • Specialized
3 8.1
demulcent
  • Specialized
9.9

Surface Forms

astringent drug singular
astringent drugs plural

Morphology

astringent + drug

The phrase is straightforwardly compositional: the adjective 'astringent' (causing tightening/constriction) modifies 'drug' (a medicinal chemical), so the meaning 'a medicine that causes tissues to contract' is directly derivable from the parts. There is no idiomatic or metaphorical shift and the adjective+noun pattern is cross-linguistically common, making it accessible to a learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Astringent drug comes from the image of a medicine that makes body tissue pull together and become tighter. The word astringent suggests 'tighten', so by making skin or tiny blood vessels 'tighten' the medicine helps 'stop bleeding' or 'reduce discharge', which is why we call these medicines an astringent drug.