decoction

[ dih-kok-shuhn ]
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noun
  1. the act of decocting.

  2. Pharmacology.

    • an extract obtained by decocting.

    • water in which a crude vegetable drug has been boiled and which therefore contains the constituents or principles of the substance soluble in boiling water.

Origin of decoction

1
1350–1400; Middle English decoccioun<Old French decoction<Late Latin dēcoctiōn- (stem of dēcoctiō) a boiling down, equivalent to dēcoct(us), past participle of dēcoquere (dē-de- + coc-, for coquere to cook1 + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn--ion

Other words from decoction

  • de·coc·tive, adjective

Words Nearby decoction

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How to use decoction in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for decoction

decoction

/ (dɪˈkɒkʃən) /


noun
  1. pharmacol the extraction of the water-soluble substances of a drug or medicinal plants by boiling

  2. the essence or liquor resulting from this

Origin of decoction

1
C14: from Old French, from Late Latin dēcoctiō, from dēcoquere to boil down, from coquere to cook

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