emetic
/ɪˈmɛtɪk
/adjective
(Of a substance) causing vomiting.This is followed by up to two quarts of warm salted water or strong licorice tea which in such high dosage is emetic....
- Early tolerance develops not only to the pleasurable euphoriant effects of heroin, but also to the analgesic, sedative, emetic, and respiratory depressant effects.
- Benzodiazepines and opioids - current standards of treatment for postoperative pain - have well-known sedative and emetic side effects.
noun
A medicine or other substance which causes vomiting.Napoleon had been treated for a long time with tartar emetics, and the day he died he had been given a huge dose of calomer as a purgative....
- Doctors resorted to medications that purged the poison from the body - mercury laxatives, calomel, and emetics such as ipecacuanha.
- Wounds were cleaned, broken bones were set, and medicinal emetics were administered.
Origin
Mid 17th century: from Greek emetikos, from emein 'to vomit'.