polyvinylpyrrolidone

[ pol-ee-vahyn-l-pi-roh-li-dohn, -rol-i- ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a white, amorphous, water-soluble powder, (C 6 H 9 NO) n , used chiefly as a vehicle in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals.

Word History and Origins

Origin of polyvinylpyrrolidone¹

First recorded in 1940–45; polyvinyl + pyrrole + -id ³ + -one