Barbiturate: meaning, definitions and examples

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barbiturate

 

[ ˌbɑːrˈbɪtʃʊrət ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

medical drugs

Barbiturates are a class of drugs that act as central nervous system depressants. They are used in medicine primarily for their sedative and anesthetic properties. Barbiturates can induce sleep and relieve anxiety, but they also have a high potential for dependence and overdose.

Synonyms

anxiolytic, depressant, sedative, sleeping pill

Examples of usage

  • The doctor prescribed a barbiturate to help the patient sleep.
  • Overdosing on barbiturates can be fatal.
  • Barbiturates were once commonly used for anxiety treatment.
  • Many athletes have been banned for using barbiturates.
  • Barbiturates are often compared to benzodiazepines.

Translations

Translations of the word "barbiturate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 barbitúrico

🇮🇳 बार्बिट्यूरेट

🇩🇪 Barbiturat

🇮🇩 barbiturat

🇺🇦 барбітурат

🇵🇱 barbituran

🇯🇵 バルビツール酸

🇫🇷 barbiturique

🇪🇸 barbitúrico

🇹🇷 barbitürat

🇰🇷 바르비투레이트

🇸🇦 باربتيورات

🇨🇿 barbiturát

🇸🇰 barbiturát

🇨🇳 巴比妥酸盐

🇸🇮 barbiturat

🇮🇸 barbitúrát

🇰🇿 барбитурат

🇬🇪 ბარბიტურატი

🇦🇿 barbiturat

🇲🇽 barbitúrico

Etymology

The term 'barbiturate' is derived from the chemical name of the first drug in this class, which was synthesized in 1864 by the German chemist Adolf von Baeyer. He created the compound barbital, which is a derivative of barbituric acid. Barbituric acid itself was discovered in 1864 by another chemist, Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Adolf von Bayer, linking its origins to early organic chemistry research in Germany. The name 'barbiturate' combines 'barbituric acid' with the suffix '-ate', which is commonly used in chemistry to denote salts or esters of a particular acid. Barbiturates became widely used in the 20th century as sedatives and anesthetics until the dangers of addiction and overdose emerged, leading to their decreased use in favor of safer alternatives.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #26,586, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.