camphor Hear it!

camphor definition

cam·phor (kam′fər)

noun

  1. a volatile, crystalline ketone, CHO, with a strong characteristic odor, derived from the wood of the camphor tree or synthetically from pinene: used to protect fabrics from moths, in manufacturing cellulose plastics, and in medicine as an irritant and stimulant
  2. any of several derivatives of terpenes

Etymology: ME camfre < OFr camphre < ML camfora < Ar kāfūr < Sans karpuraḥ, camphor tree

Related Forms:

  • camphoric cam·phor′ic (-fôr′ik) adjective

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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