Chloroform
/ˈklɒɹə(ʊ)ˌfɔː(ɹ)m/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A halogenated hydrocarbon, trichloromethane, CHCl₃; it is a volatile, sweet-smelling liquid, used extensively as a solvent and formerly as an anesthetic. uncountable
"Some assume that chloroform is a gas because it was given by inhalation."
- 2 a volatile liquid haloform (CHCl3); formerly used as an anesthetic wordnet
Verb
- 1 To treat with chloroform, or to render unconscious with chloroform.
- 2 anesthetize with chloroform wordnet
Antonyms
All antonymsExample
More examples"Sami knew how to make chloroform."
Etymology
Borrowed from French chloroforme, portmanteau of terchloride (tertiary chloride, trichloride) and formyle (CH, an obsolete radical of formic acid) by Jean-Baptiste Dumas, from 1834. By surface analysis, chloro- + -form.