emetic

American  

[uh-met-ik] / əˈmɛt ɪk /

adjective

1. causing vomiting, as a medicinal substance.

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noun

1. an emetic medicine or agent.

emetic British  

/ ɪˈmɛtɪk /

adjective

1. causing vomiting

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noun

1. an emetic agent or drug

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• hyperemetic
  adjective
• emetically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of emetic

1650–60; < Latin emeticus < Greek emetikós, equivalent to émet ( os ) vomiting + -ikos -ic

Explanation

An emetic is a medicine or potion that makes you vomit, which you might be given if you've taken poison or some other harmful substance. You can also use the word emetic in a more figurative sense to describe anything that makes you feel sick — the motion of a boat rocked by a storm could easily be an emetic, and the tuna sandwich the guy sitting next to you on the bus has just unwrapped might also be an emetic for everyone sitting nearby.