atropine

Meaning

Noun

  • An alkaloid extracted from the plant deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) and other sources, such as the seeds of the Thorn-apple. Though overdoses would be fatal it is used as a drug in medicine for its paralytic effects (e.g. in surgery to relax muscles, in dentistry to dry the mouth, in ophthalmology to dilate the pupils).

Origin

  • From Atropa + -ine.

Modern English dictionary

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