methotrexate

[ meth-oh-trek-seyt ]

nounPharmacology.
  1. a toxic folic acid analogue, C20H22N8O5, that inhibits cellular reproduction, used primarily in the treatment of psoriasis and certain cancers and as an immunosuppressive agent.

Origin of methotrexate

1
1950–55; metho(xy)- + trexate, of unclear derivation

Words Nearby methotrexate

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How to use methotrexate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for methotrexate

methotrexate

/ (ˌmɛθəʊˈtrɛkseɪt, ˌmiːθəʊ-) /


noun
  1. an antimetabolite drug used in the treatment of certain cancers. Formula: C 20 H 22 N 8 O 5

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 methotrexate

methotrexate

[ mĕth′ə-trĕksāt ]


  1. A toxic drug that acts as a folic acid antagonist to interfere with cellular reproduction and is used in the treatment of psoriasis, certain cancers, and certain inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Chemical formula: C20H22N8O5.

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