aspirin

as·pi·rin  (spr-n, -prn)

n. pl. aspirin or as·pi·rins

1. A white, crystalline compound, CH₃COOC₆H₄COOH, derived from salicylic acid and commonly used in tablet form to relieve pain and reduce fever and inflammation. It is also used as an antiplatelet agent. Also called acetylsalicylic acid.

2. A tablet of aspirin.

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[Originally a trademark.]

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aspirin

Noun

pl -rin or -rins

1. a drug used to relieve pain and fever

2. a tablet of aspirin [German]

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aspirin  (spr-n, sprn)

A white crystalline compound derived from salicylic acid and used in medicine to relieve fever and pain and as an anticoagulant. Also called acetylsalicylic acid. Chemical formula: C₉H₈O₄.

A Closer Look Ninety percent of the population experiences at least one headache each year. The most common type is a tension headache, which is caused by stress and is characterized by tightening of the muscles in the base of the neck and along the scalp. Aspirin alleviates headaches by blocking the body's production of prostaglandins, hormones that contribute to pain by stimulating muscle contraction and blood vessel dilation. For thousands of years, people chewed the bark of willow trees to control headache and other pain. The study of the properties of this medicinal plant led German chemist Hermann Kolbe to synthesize acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), a building block of aspirin, in 1859. A pure form of ASA wasn't prepared until 1897, by Felix Hoffman, a chemist in the Bayer chemical factory in Germany. After publication of successful clinical trials, aspirin was distributed in powder form in 1899 and as a tablet in 1900. Aspirin possesses a number of properties that make it one of the most recommended drugs. Besides being an analgesic, or pain reliever, it also reduces inflammation that often accompanies injuries or diseases, such as arthritis. It is also an antipyretic compound, or fever reducer. Aspirin is the only over-the-counter analgesic approved for prevention of cardiovascular disease. New research suggests that aspirin may also decrease the risk of some forms of stroke. Additional studies indicate that aspirin may play a role in reducing the risks of ovarian cancer.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

aspirin - the acetylated derivative of salicylic acid; used as an analgesic anti-inflammatory drug (trade names Bayer, Empirin, and St. Joseph) usually taken in tablet form; used as an antipyretic; slows clotting of the blood by poisoning platelets acetylsalicylic acid, Bayer, Empirin, St. Joseph analgesic, anodyne, pain pill, painkiller - a medicine used to relieve pain aspirin powder, headache powder - a powdered form of aspirin buffered aspirin, Bufferin - aspirin coated with a substance capable of neutralizing acid (trade name Bufferin) enteric-coated aspirin - aspirin that is treated to pass through the stomach unaltered and to dissolve in the intestines salicylate - a salt of salicylic acid (included in several commonly used drugs) 2-hydroxybenzoic acid, salicylic acid - a white crystalline substance with a bitter aftertaste; used as a fungicide or in making aspirin or dyes or perfumes

Translations

aspirin [ˈæsprɪn] n → aspirina

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aspirin [ˈæsprɪn] n → aspirine f

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aspirin [ˈæsprɪn] n → Kopfschmerztablette f, Aspirin® nt

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aspirin [ˈæsprɪn] n → aspirina