barbiturate

bar·bi·tu·rate  (bär-bchr-t, --rt, bärb-trt, -t, -tyr-, bär-bch-wt )

n.

1. A salt or ester of barbituric acid.

2. Any of a group of barbituric acid derivatives that act as central nervous system depressants and are used as sedatives or hypnotics.

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[barbitur(ic acid) + -ate².]

Usage Note: When this class of drugs was introduced in the early part of this century, barbiturate had its main stress on the penultimate syllable, a pronunciation that is still used in the medical profession. As the word passed into the general vocabulary the stress shifted to the antepenultimate syllable, bringing the stress pattern more in line with words like acculturate, accurate, and saturate. Either pronunciation is considered correct now. Since at least the 1960s the pronunciation (bär-bch-wt), without the second r, has been considered nonstandard despite the fact that it is quite common. In a recent survey 62 percent of the Usage Panel still disapprove of this pronunciation, while 38 percent approve of it, suggesting that the usage is becoming less stigmatized. One reason for this may be that the pronunciation without the second r is simply easier to say, since the combination (-r-t) occurs relatively infrequently in English. In addition, the presence of the first r may influence the dropping out of the second r by the phonological process of dissimilation.

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barbiturate

Noun

a derivative of barbituric acid used in medicine as a sedative

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barbiturate  (bär-bchr-t)

Any of a group of drugs that act as depressants of the central nervous system, are highly addictive, and are used primarily as sedatives and anticonvulsants. Phenobarbital and pentobarbital are examples of barbiturates.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

barbiturate - organic compound having powerful soporific effect; overdose can be fatal amobarbital - a barbiturate with sedative and hypnotic effects; used to relieve insomnia and as an anticonvulsant barbital, barbitone, diethylbarbituric acid, diethylmalonylurea, veronal - a barbiturate used as a hypnotic Mebaral, mephobarbital - a long-acting crystalline barbiturate (trade name Mebaral) used as a sedative and as an anticonvulsant in the treatment of epilepsy Nembutal, pentobarbital, pentobarbital sodium, yellow jacket - a barbiturate (trade name Nembutal) used as a sedative and hypnotic and antispasmodic red devil, secobarbital, secobarbital sodium, Seconal - barbiturate that is a white odorless slightly bitter powder (trade name Seconal) used as a sodium salt for sedation and to treat convulsions sedative-hypnotic, sedative-hypnotic drug - a sedative that depresses activity of the central nervous system and reduces anxiety and induces sleep Luminal, phenobarbital, phenobarbitone, sodium thiopental, purple heart - a long-acting barbiturate used as a sedative Pentothal, thiopental, thiopental sodium, thiopentobarbital sodium - barbiturate that is a hygroscopic powder (trade name Pentothal) that is a strong barbiturate that acts rapidly; induces a relaxed state when injected as a general anesthetic

Translations

barbiturate [bɑːˈbɪtjurɪt] n → barbitúrico

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barbiturate [bɑːˈbɪtjurɪt] n → barbiturique m

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barbiturate [bɑːˈbɪtjurɪt] n → Schlafmittel nt, Barbiturat nt

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barbiturate [bɑːˈbɪtjurɪt] n → barbiturico