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diuretic

American  
[dahy-uh-ret-ik] / ˌdaɪ əˈrɛt ɪk /

adjective

  1. increasing the volume of the urine excreted, as by a medicinal substance.


noun

  1. a diuretic medicine or agent.

diuretic British  
/ ˌdaɪjʊˈrɛtɪk /

adjective

  1. acting to increase the flow of urine

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a drug or agent that increases the flow of urine

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
diuretic Scientific  
/ dī′ə-rĕtĭk /
  1. A substance or drug that tends to increase the discharge of urine. Diuretics are used in the treatment of high blood pressure, edema, and other medical conditions.


diuretic Cultural  
  1. A substance that increases the rate of urine production.


Other Word Forms

  • diuretically adverb
  • diureticalness noun
  • undiuretic adjective

Etymology

Origin of diuretic

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English d(i)uretik, from Late Latin diūrēticus, from Greek diourētikós, from di- di- 3 + ourē- (verb stem of oureîn “to urinate”; uro- 1 ( def. ) ) + -tikos -tic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Marcus added that "caffeine is also a diuretic, which could potentially reduce blood pressure and in turn lessen AFib risk. Several other ingredients in coffee also have anti-inflammatory properties that could have positive effects."

From Science Daily

The results show that long-term use of antihypertensive drugs, cholesterol-lowering drugs, diuretics and blood-thinning drugs is associated with between 4 and 25 percent lower risk of dementia.

From Science Daily

Medications used to treat heart failure include diuretics, which reduce tissue swelling and can be administered orally or intravenously.

From Science Daily

Though caffeine is a diuretic, consuming up to 400 mg of it daily can actually help with hydration, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ King.

From Los Angeles Times

Prescription medicines like diuretics can cause dehydration, especially during warm weather in an area as arid as central Arizona.

From Seattle Times