camphor
a whitish, translucent, crystalline, pleasant-odored terpene ketone, C10H16O, obtained from the camphor tree, used chiefly in the manufacture of celluloid and in medicine as a counter-irritant for infections and in the treatment of pain and itching.
any substance having medicinal or aromatic characteristics similar to those of camphor.
Origin of camphor
1Other words from camphor
- cam·phor·a·ceous [kam-fuh-rey-shuhs], /ˌkæm fəˈreɪ ʃəs/, adjective
- cam·phor·ic [kam-fawr-ik, -for-], /kæmˈfɔr ɪk, -ˈfɒr-/, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use camphor in a sentence
Chemically, the camphors may be divided into two main groups, according to the nature of the corresponding hydrocarbon or terpene.
Beyond the camphors, a wide, strange landscape glowed in the full, low-streaming light.
Dragon's blood | Henry Milner RideoutAfter offerings had been made, of fruit, flowers and sandalwood, the five camphors in each candlestick were lighted.
Pagan & Christian Creeds | Edward CarpenterA great many essential oils deposit, after exposure to air, camphors produced by oxidation of their terpenes.
Poisons: Their Effects and Detection | Alexander Wynter Blyth
British Dictionary definitions for camphor
/ (ˈkæmfə) /
a whitish crystalline aromatic terpene ketone obtained from the wood of the camphor tree or made from pinene: used in the manufacture of celluloid and in medicine as a liniment and treatment for colds. Formula: C 10 H 16 O
Origin of camphor
1Derived forms of camphor
- camphoric (kæmˈfɒrɪk), adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for camphor
[ kăm′fər ]
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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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