purgative

[ pur-guh-tiv ]
/ ˈpɜr gə tɪv /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR purgative ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

purging or cleansing, especially by causing evacuation of the bowels.

noun

a purgative medicine or agent; cathartic.

QUIZZES

IS YOUR VOCABULARY AS STRONG AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT? TRY THIS QUIZ TO SEE!

It may seem like fun and games but this quiz that uses vocab from popular stories will determine how much you know.
Question 1 of 10
disgruntle
to deprive of ability, qualification, or strength
to put into a state of sulky dissatisfaction
to make repayment or return for (service, benefits, etc.)
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of purgative

1350–1400; <Late Latin pūrgātīvus (see purgation, -ive); replacing Middle English purgatyf<Middle French <Late Latin, as above

OTHER WORDS FROM purgative

Words nearby purgative

pure line, purely, pure reason, purfle, purgation, purgative, Purgatoire, purgatorial, purgatory, purge, purging nut
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to purgative

purge, laxative, physic, aperient, emetic, aperitive

Example sentences from the Web for purgative

British Dictionary definitions for purgative

purgative
/ (ˈpɜːɡətɪv) med /

noun

a drug or agent for purging the bowels

adjective

causing evacuation of the bowels; cathartic

Derived forms of purgative

purgatively, adverb
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

Medical definitions for purgative

purgative
[ pûr′gə-tĭv ]

n.

An agent used for purging the bowels.

adj.

Tending to cause evacuation of the bowels.

Other words from purgative

pur′ga•tive adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.