cathartic (redirected from osmotic cathartic)

ca·thar·tic  (k-thärtk)

adj.

Inducing catharsis; purgative.

n.

An agent for purging the bowels, especially a laxative.

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[Late Latin catharticus, from Greek kathartikos, from kathairein, to purge; see catharsis.]

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cathartic

Adjective

causing catharsis

Noun

a drug that causes catharsis

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cathartic

a purgative medicine.

See also: Remedies

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	cathartic - a purging medicine; stimulates evacuation of the bowels aperient, physic, purgative aloes, bitter aloes - a purgative made from the leaves of aloe castor oil - a purgative extracted from the seed of the castor-oil plant; used in paint and varnish as well as medically Epsom salts - (used with a singular noun) hydrated magnesium sulfate used as a laxative laxative - a mild cathartic medicament, medication, medicinal drug, medicine - (medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease milk of magnesia - purgative consisting of a milky white liquid suspension of magnesium hydroxide; used as a laxative and (in smaller doses) as an antacid Rochelle powder, Seidlitz powder, Seidlitz powders - an effervescing salt containing sodium bicarbonate and Rochelle salt and tartaric acid; used as a cathartic
Adj.	1.	cathartic - emotionally purging psychotherapeutic healthful - conducive to good health of body or mind; "a healthful climate"; "a healthful environment"; "healthful nutrition"; "healthful sleep"; "Dickens's relatively healthful exuberance"
	2.	cathartic - emotionally purging (of e.g. art) releasing artistic creation, artistic production, art - the creation of beautiful or significant things; "art does not need to be innovative to be good"; "I was never any good at art"; "he said that architecture is the art of wasting space beautifully" emotional - of more than usual emotion; "his behavior was highly emotional"
	3.	cathartic - strongly laxative evacuant, purgative laxative - stimulating evacuation of feces