ipecac

noun

ip·​e·​cac ˈi-pi-ˌkak 

variants or less commonly ipecacuanha

ˌi-pi-ˌka-kyə-ˈwä-nə 

-nyə

1

: the dried rhizome and roots of a tropical American plant (Carapichea ipecacuanha synonym Cephaelis ipecacuanha) of the madder family used especially as a source of emetine

also : this plant

2

: an emetic and expectorant drug that contains emetine and is prepared from ipecac especially as a syrup for use in treating accidental poisoning

Examples of ipecac in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

What to avoid Do not induce vomiting or give syrup of ipecac. —Stacey Colino, Parents, 20 Sep. 2023

Turns out, her mother, Patty, was just a really good liar with a bottle of ipecac syrup. —Barbara Vandenburgh, USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2020

Running, biking, sit-ups, push-ups, leg lifts, aerobics, swimming, dancing, eating only once a day, laxatives, ipecac, a finger down the throat, getting drunk in hopes of vomiting, measuring and weighing my food and myself. —Andrea Jarrell, Harper's BAZAAR, 4 Oct. 2017

Weight-loss regimens included consuming soap, chalk, pickles, digitalis, camphor tea, grapefruit (which was thought to contain fat-dissolving enzymes), potassium acetate (a diuretic), and ipecac (which induces vomiting). —Jerome Groopman, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese ipecacuanha, from Tupi ɨpekakwánʸa, from ɨpéka duck + akwánʸa penis

First Known Use

1682, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

ipecac

noun

ip·​e·​cac ˈip-i-ˌkak 

variants or ipecacuanha

ē-ˌpek-ə-ku̇-ˈan-yə 

1

: either of two South American creeping plants

2

: the dried roots or rhizome of an ipecac that are the source of a medicinal syrup used to cause vomiting in the treatment of accidental poisoning

also : the medicinal syrup

Medical Definition

ipecac

noun

ip·​e·​cac ˈip-i-ˌkak 

variants also ipecacuanha

ˌip-i-ˌkak-ü-ˈan-ə 

1

: the dried rhizome and roots of either of two tropical American plants (Cephaelis acuminata and C. ipecacuanha) of the madder family used especially as a source of emetine and cephaeline

also : either of these plants

2

: an emetic and expectorant preparation of ipecac

especially : ipecac syrup