barbiturate Hear it!

barbiturate definition

bar·bi·tu·rate (bär bic̸h′ər it, -ə rāt′; bär′bə tyo̵or′it, -to̵or′-, -āt′; often, -bic̸h′ə wit)

noun

any depressant drug, as phenobarbital, derived from barbituric acid and used as a sedative, sleeping pill, anticonvulsant, etc.

Etymology: barbituric acid + -ate

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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