quinine

[ kwahy-nahyn, kwin-ahynor, especially British, kwi-neen ]

noun

, Chemistry, Pharmacology.

1. a white, bitter, slightly water-soluble alkaloid, C 2 0 H 2 4 N 2 O 2 , having needlelike crystals, obtained from cinchona bark: used in medicine chiefly in the treatment of resistant forms of malaria.
2. a salt of this alkaloid, especially the sulfate.

quinine

/ kwɪˈniːn; ˈkwaɪnaɪn /

noun

1. a bitter crystalline alkaloid extracted from cinchona bark, the salts of which are used as a tonic, antipyretic, analgesic, etc, and in malaria therapy. Formula: C 20 H 24 N 2 O 2

quinine

/ kwī′nīn′ /

1. A bitter-tasting, colorless drug derived from the bark of certain cinchona trees and used medicinally to treat malaria. For hundreds of years quinine was the only drug known to effectively combat malarial infection. It has since been largely replaced by synthetic compounds that not only relieve the symptoms of malaria but also rid the body of the malarial parasite, which quinine does not do.
2. See Note at aspirin

Word History and Origins

Origin of quinine¹

1820–30; < Spanish quin ( a ) (< Quechua kina bark) + -ine ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of quinine¹

C19: from Spanish quina cinchona bark, from Quechua kina bark

Example Sentences

But then came quinine, perhaps the first effective antimicrobial of them all.

From The Daily Beast

(Tonic water made today still notes “contains quinine” on the label).

From The Daily Beast

Quinine, cholagogue, and whiskey were prescribed in large quantities, and Peter wondered why they failed to cure.

From Project Gutenberg

He did not suspect that the quinine went into the fire, and the cholagogue down the drain-pipe from the washstand.

From Project Gutenberg

Accordingly, temperance was said farewell to, quinine instituted, and I believe my pains are soon to be over.

From Project Gutenberg

The sight of this last reminded the official that he had fever lately; Could the Englishman spare him a little quinine?

From Project Gutenberg

Doses were given out to all who wished for it, for a few grains of quinine seldom go amiss in this country.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• antidote
• drug
• elixir
• fix
• healing
• medication
• medicine
• panacea
• placebo
• quick fix
• recovery
• remedy
• treatment