Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A low-growing tropical American shrub (Psychotria ipecacuanha syn. Cephaelis ipecacuanha) having roots and rhizomes that yield emetine.
  • noun The dried roots and rhizomes of this shrub.
  • noun A medicinal preparation made from the dried roots and rhizomes of this shrub that is used to induce vomiting, particularly in cases of poisoning and drug overdose.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Same as ipecacuanha.
  • noun The spreading dogbane, Apocynum androsæmifolium.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun An abbreviation of ipecacuanha, and in more frequent use.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The plant ipecacuanha (Psychotria ipecacuanha) or its root.
  • noun Syrup of ipecac, produced from this plant's root, used to induce emesis (vomiting).

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a medicinal drug used to evoke vomiting (especially in cases of drug overdose or poisoning)

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Short for Portuguese ipecacuanha, from Tupí ipekaaguéne : ipeh, low + kaâ, leaves + guéne, vomit.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Shortening of ipecacuanha, from Tupian.

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Examples

Comments

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  • Startlingly onomatopoetic.

    April 25, 2008

  • *wipes the walls down*

    April 25, 2008

  • Oh yes! Duh! *adds to list*

    April 25, 2008

  • "Epilogue."

    "Epilady."

    "Epicenter."

    "Ipecac."

    -Mystery Science Theater 3000

    June 25, 2009

  • Sounds like what it makes you do.

    May 24, 2014

  • See also the immortal syrup of ipecac.

    May 25, 2014

  • Usage note can be found on Melchisedech Thevenot.

    December 28, 2016