cam·phor   (kām'fər)    n.  An aromatic crystalline compound, C10H16O, obtained naturally from the wood or leaves of the camphor tree or synthesized and used as an insect repellent, in the manufacture of film, plastics, lacquers, and explosives, and in medicine chiefly in external preparations to relieve mild pain and itching. [Middle English caumfre, from Anglo-Norman, from Medieval Latin camphora, from Arabic kāfūr, possibly from Malay kapur; akin to Sanskrit karpūraḥ.] cam'phor·a'ceous (kām'fə-rā'shəs) adj., cam·phor'ic (-fôr'ĭk, -fŏr'-) adj.

Camphor

Cam"phor\, n. [OE. camfere, F. camphre (cf. It. camfara, Sp. camfara, alcanfor, LL. camfora, camphara, NGr. ?), fr. Ar. k[=a]f[=u]r, prob. fr. Skr. karp[=u]ra.]

1. A tough, white, aromatic resin, or gum, obtained from different species of the Laurus family, esp. from Cinnamomum camphara (the Laurus camphara of Linn[ae]us.). Camphor, C10H16O, is volatile and fragrant, and is used in medicine as a diaphoretic, a stimulant, or sedative.

2. A gum resembling ordinary camphor, obtained from a tree (Dryobalanops camphora) growing in Sumatra and Borneo; -- called also Malay camphor, camphor of Borneo, or borneol. See Borneol.

Note: The name camphor is also applied to a number of bodies of similar appearance and properties, as cedar camphor, obtained from the red or pencil cedar (Juniperus Virginiana), and peppermint camphor, or menthol, obtained from the oil of peppermint.

Camphor oil (Chem.), name variously given to certain oil-like products, obtained especially from the camphor tree.

Camphor tree, a large evergreen tree (Cinnamomum Camphora) with lax, smooth branches and shining triple-nerved lanceolate leaves, probably native in China, but now cultivated in most warm countries. Camphor is collected by a process of steaming the chips of the wood and subliming the product.

camphor 

Main Entry: cam·phor
Pronunciation: 'kam(p)-f&r
Function: noun
: a tough gummy volatile aromatic crystalline compoundC₁₀H₁₆O obtained especially from the wood and bark of the camphor tree and used topically as a liniment and mild analgesic, as a plasticizer, and as an insect repellent;also : any of several similar compounds (as some terpene alcohols and ketones) —cam·phor·ic /kam-'for-ik, -'fär-/ adjective

camphor cam·phor (kām'fər)
n.
An aromatic crystalline compound obtained from the wood or leaves of the camphor tree or synthesized and used as an insect repellent and in external preparations to relieve mild pain and itching.

camphor   (kām'fər)  Pronunciation Key  A white, gumlike, crystalline compound that has a strong odor. Camphor is volatile and is used as an insect repellent and in making plastics and explosives. Chemical formula: C10H16O.