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Synonyms

barbiturate

American  
[bahr-bich-er-it, -uh-reyt, bahr-bi-toor-it, -eyt, -tyoor-] / bɑrˈbɪtʃ ər ɪt, -əˌreɪt, ˌbɑr bɪˈtʊər ɪt, -eɪt, -ˈtyʊər- /

noun

Pharmacology.

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

barbiturate British  
/ -ˌreɪt, bɑːˈbɪtjʊrɪt /

noun

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

"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
barbiturate Scientific  
/ bär-bĭch′ər-ĭt /

  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

Etymology

Origin of barbiturate

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

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.

Nonsense neuroscience extends beyond the research paper and news conference into everyday life, says David Barbiturate of Duke University.

From Scientific American • Apr. 2, 2012

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.