Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Quinine

Qui′nine

,
Noun.
[F. (cf. Sp.
quinina
), fr. Sp.
quina
, or
quinaquina
, Peruvian bark, fr. Peruv.
kina
,
quina
, bark. Cf.
Kinic
.]
(Chem.)
An alkaloid extracted from the bark of several species of cinchona (esp.
Cinchona Calisaya
) as a bitter white crystalline substance,
C20H24N2O2
. Hence, by extension
(Med.)
, any of the salts of this alkaloid, as the acetate, chloride, sulphate, etc., employed as a febrifuge or antiperiodic. Called also
quinia
,
quinina
, etc.
[Written also
chinine
.]

Definition 2024


quinine

quinine

English

Noun

quinine (countable and uncountable, plural quinines)

  1. (pharmacology) A bitter colourless powder, an alkaloid derived from cinchona bark, used to treat malaria and as an ingredient of tonic water.
    • 1922, Michael Arlen, chapter 2/9/1, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days:
      He hadn't the faintest idea what to with a cold in the head, he just took quinine and continued to blow his nose.

Translations

See also


French

Noun

quinine f (plural quinines)

  1. quinine

References

  • quinine” in the Dictionnaire de l’Académie française, 8th Edition (1932–35).