Laxative
/ˈlæk.sə.tɪv/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any substance, such as a food or in the form of a medicine which has a laxative effect.
"According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, the US is having a love affair with laxatives; Americans of all ages are ingesting so much of the stuff that there are now shortages nationwide."
- 2 a mild cathartic wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Having the effect of moving the bowels, or aiding digestion and preventing constipation.
"BOlvs in Engliſh is called a morſell. It is a medicine laxatiue, in forme & faſhion it is meanely whole, & it is ſwallowed by litle gobbets."
Adjective
- 1 stimulating evacuation of feces wordnet
Example
More examples"Your grandfather is looking for his laxative."
Etymology
From Middle French laxatif, from Latin laxātīvus (literally “relaxing, loosening”).