camphor
Americannoun
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a whitish, translucent, crystalline, pleasant-odored terpene ketone, C 10 H 16 O, obtained from the camphor tree, used chiefly in the manufacture of celluloid and in medicine as a counter-irritant for infections and in the treatment of pain and itching.
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any substance having medicinal or aromatic characteristics similar to those of camphor.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of camphor
1275–1325; < Medieval Latin, New Latin camphora ≪ Arabic kāfūr < Malay kapur chalk, lime, camphor; replacing Middle English caumfre < Anglo-French < Medieval Latin
Vocabulary lists containing camphor
2015 Spelling Bee - Words from Round 2
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"When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine," Vocabulary from the short story
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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.
VIP festivalgoers will gain access to even more culinary experiences, including caviar-crowned chicken nuggets from Le Burger by Camphor and Wagyu and uni-topped delights from Chubby Club in the 12 Peaks VIP area.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2025
Camphor and sandalwood for the gods were sourced from Sumatra and Borneo.
From BBC • Jan. 17, 2025
Camphor said he’s been closely watching the governor’s race and remains undecided.
From Washington Post • Sep. 5, 2018
The Aug. 25 call was the last involving Camphor, according to the police reports.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 27, 2017
Camphor has been claimed to be a valuable medicine in cholera, but there is no clinical evidence that it is so.
From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various
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.
