ipecac

noun

ip·​e·​cac ˈi-pi-ˌkak How to pronounce ipecac (audio)
variants or less commonly ipecacuanha
1
: the dried rhizome and roots of either of two tropical American plants (Cephaelis acuminata and C. ipecacuanha) of the madder family used especially as a source of emetine
also : either of these plants
2
: an emetic and expectorant drug that contains emetine and is prepared from ipecac especially as a syrup for use in treating accidental poisoning

Examples of ipecac in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web What to avoid Do not induce vomiting or give syrup of ipecac. Stacey Colino, Parents, 20 Sep. 2023 Turns out, her mother, Patty, was just a really good liar with a bottle of ipecac syrup. Barbara Vandenburgh, USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2020 Running, biking, sit-ups, push-ups, leg lifts, aerobics, swimming, dancing, eating only once a day, laxatives, ipecac, a finger down the throat, getting drunk in hopes of vomiting, measuring and weighing my food and myself. Andrea Jarrell, Harper's BAZAAR, 4 Oct. 2017 Weight-loss regimens included consuming soap, chalk, pickles, digitalis, camphor tea, grapefruit (which was thought to contain fat-dissolving enzymes), potassium acetate (a diuretic), and ipecac (which induces vomiting). Jerome Groopman, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ipecac.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese ipecacuanha, from Tupi ɨpekakwánʸa, from ɨpéka duck + akwánʸa penis

First Known Use

1682, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ipecac was in 1682

Dictionary Entries Near ipecac

Cite this Entry

“Ipecac.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ipecac. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ipecac

noun
ip·​e·​cac ˈip-i-ˌkak How to pronounce ipecac (audio)
variants or ipecacuanha
1
: either of two South American creeping plants
2
: the dried roots or rhizome of an ipecac that are the source of a medicinal syrup used to cause vomiting in the treatment of accidental poisoning
also : the medicinal syrup

Medical Definition

ipecac

noun
ip·​e·​cac ˈip-i-ˌkak How to pronounce ipecac (audio)
variants also ipecacuanha
1
: the dried rhizome and roots of either of two tropical American plants (Cephaelis acuminata and C. ipecacuanha) of the madder family used especially as a source of emetine and cephaeline
also : either of these plants
2
: an emetic and expectorant preparation of ipecac
especially : ipecac syrup

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