laxative Hear it!

laxative definition

laxa·tive (lak′sə tiv)

adjective

tending to make lax; specif., making the bowels loose and relieving constipation

Etymology: ME laxatif < OFr < ML laxativus < LL, mitigating < pp. of L laxare, to relax, slacken < laxus: see lax

noun

any laxative medicine; mild cathartic

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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