ecbolic

[ ek-bol-ik ]

/ ɛkˈbɒl ɪk /

adjective

Medicine/Medical. promoting labor by increasing uterine contractions.

noun

Pharmacology. an ecbolic drug.

Nearby words

ecarinate, ecatepec de morelos, ecaudate, ecb, ecbatana, ecbolic, ecce homo, ecce signum, eccentric, eccentric hypertrophy, eccentric occlusion

Origin of ecbolic

1745–55; < Greek ekbol(ḗ) expulsion (equivalent to ek- ec- + -bolē a throwing) + -ic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ecbolic

Although here probably seen in an exaggerated form, it is almost certainly a characteristic of the ecbolic curve generally.
Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 1 (of 6)|Havelock Ellis
As will be seen, there is here a fairly exact resemblance to the yearly ecbolic curve of people of the same class.
Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 1 (of 6)|Havelock Ellis
Here, if anywhere, should be material for the construction of a menstrual rhythm on an ecbolic basis.
Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 1 (of 6)|Havelock Ellis
Here, it will be seen, there appears to be a tendency for the ecbolic cycle to cover a period of about six weeks.
Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 1 (of 6)|Havelock Ellis

British Dictionary definitions for ecbolic

ecbolic

/ (ɛkˈbɒlɪk) /

adjective

hastening labour or abortion

noun

a drug or agent that hastens labour or abortion

Word Origin for ecbolic

C18: from Greek ekbolē a throwing out, from ekballein to throw out, from ballein to throw

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