ephedrine

[ ih-fed-rin, ef-i-dreen, -drin ]

/ ɪˈfɛd rɪn, ˈɛf ɪˌdrin, -drɪn /

noun Pharmacology.

a white, crystalline alkaloid, C10H15N, obtained from a species of Ephedra or synthesized: used in medicine chiefly for the treatment of asthma, hay fever, and colds.

Nearby words

ephebe, ephebiatrics, ephebic, ephebus, ephedra, ephedrine, ephelis, ephemera, ephemeral, ephemerality, ephemerid

Origin of ephedrine

1885–90; < New Latin Ephedr(a) ephedra + -ine²

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

Examples from the Web for ephedrine

Combination of ephedrine and homatropine hydrochlorates (100:1).
Merck's 1899 Manual|Merck & Co.

British Dictionary definitions for ephedrine

ephedrine

ephedrin

/ (ɪˈfɛdrɪn, ˈɛfɪˌdriːn, -drɪn) /

noun

a white crystalline alkaloid obtained from plants of the genus Ephedra: used for the treatment of asthma and hay fever; l-phenyl-2-methylaminopropanol. Formula: C 6 H 5 CH(OH)CH(NHCH 3)CH 3

Word Origin for ephedrine

C19: from New Latin ephedra + -ine ²

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

Word Origin and History for ephedrine

ephedrine

1889, named 1887 by Japanese organic chemist Nagai Nagayoshi (1844-1929), from the plant ephedra, from which it was first extracted, + chemical suffix -ine (2).

Medicine definitions for ephedrine

ephedrine

[ ĭ-fĕd′rĭn, ĕf′ĭ-drēn′ ]

n.

An odorless crystalline or powdered alkaloid isolated from shrubs of the genus Ephedra or made synthetically and used in the treatment of allergies and asthma.

Science definitions for ephedrine

ephedrine

[ ĭ-fĕd′rĭn, ĕf′ĭ-drēn′ ]

A white, odorless, powdered or crystalline alkaloid isolated from shrubs of the genus Ephedra or made synthetically. It is used in the treatment of allergies and asthma. Chemical formula: C10H15NO.