barbiturate

[bahr-bich-er-it, -uh-reyt, bahr-bi-toor-it, -eyt, -tyoor-]

noun

Pharmacology.

1. any of a group of barbituric acid derivatives, used in medicine as sedatives and hypnotics.

barbiturate

/ -ˌreɪt, bɑːˈbɪtjʊrɪt /

noun

1. a derivative of barbituric acid, such as phenobarbital, used in medicine as a sedative, hypnotic, or anticonvulsant

barbiturate

1. Any of a group of drugs that act as depressants of the central nervous system, are highly addictive, and are used primarily as sedatives and anticonvulsants. Phenobarbital and pentobarbital are examples of barbiturates.

Other Word Forms

• nonbarbiturate noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of barbiturate¹

First recorded in 1925–30; barbitur(ic) + -ate ²

Example Sentences

The chorus of "Wild Horses" was reportedly uttered by Faithfull after she awoke from a coma brought on by a barbiturate overdose.

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Mr Crew, who died aged 74, reportedly told nurses "I want to die today" before drinking water laced with barbiturates under the supervision of Dignitas.

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Next came Jimi Hendrix, a guitarist extraordinaire who overdosed on barbiturates in 1970.

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The cause of death was ruled to be acute barbiturate poisoning.

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Ure died from an accidental overdose of alcohol and barbiturates in 1975, and Shaw died of a heart attack three years later.

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Related Words

• medication 
• narcotic 
• opiate 
• sleeping pill