aspirin

[ as-per-in, -prin ]

noun

, plural as·pi·rin, as·pi·rins.

1. Pharmacology. a white, crystalline substance, C 9 H 8 O 4 , derivative of salicylic acid, used as an anti-inflammatory agent and to relieve the pain of headache, rheumatism, gout, neuralgia, etc.; acetylsalicylic acid ( def ).
2. an aspirin tablet:

   I took two aspirin and went right to bed.

aspirin

/ ˈæsprɪn /

noun

1. a white crystalline compound widely used in the form of tablets to relieve pain and fever, to reduce inflammation, and to prevent strokes. Formula: CH 3 COOC 6 H 4 COOH Chemical nameacetylsalicylic acid
2. a tablet of aspirin

aspirin

/ ăs′pər-ĭn,ăs′prĭn /

1. A white crystalline compound derived from salicylic acid and used in medicine to relieve fever and pain and as an anticoagulant. Also called acetylsalicylic acid. Chemical formula: C 9 H 8 O 4 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of aspirin¹

First recorded in 1899; originally a German trademark, equivalent to A(cetyl) + Spir(säure) “salicylic acid” + -in noun suffix; acetyl, spirea, -in ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of aspirin¹

C19: from German, from A ( cetyl ) + Spir ( säure ) spiraeic acid (modern salicylic acid) + -in ; see also spiraea

A Closer Look

Ninety percent of the population experiences at least one headache each year. The most common type is a tension headache, which is caused by stress and is characterized by tightening of the muscles in the base of the neck and along the scalp. Aspirin alleviates headaches by blocking the body's production of prostaglandins, hormones that contribute to pain by stimulating muscle contraction and blood vessel dilation. For thousands of years, people chewed the bark of willow trees to control headache and other pain. The study of the properties of this medicinal plant led German chemist Hermann Kolbe to synthesize acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), a building block of aspirin, in 1859. A pure form of ASA wasn't prepared until 1897, by Felix Hoffman, a chemist in the Bayer chemical factory in Germany. After publication of successful clinical trials, aspirin was distributed in powder form in 1899 and as a tablet in 1900. Aspirin possesses a number of properties that make it one of the most recommended drugs. Besides being an analgesic, or pain reliever, it also reduces inflammation that often accompanies injuries or diseases, such as arthritis. It is also an antipyretic compound, or fever reducer. Aspirin is the only over-the-counter analgesic approved for prevention of cardiovascular disease. New research suggests that aspirin may also decrease the risk of some forms of stroke. Additional studies indicate that aspirin may play a role in reducing the risks of ovarian cancer.

Example Sentences

Common pharmaceuticals such as aspirin and paracetamol, whose structures are already known, were used as simple test cases.

From Science Daily

He also treats sick cows with a medication similar to aspirin, to reduce fever, pain and discomfort.

From Los Angeles Times

You cannot have monoclonal antibodies at aspirin prices.

From BBC

On the other hand, some widely used medicines would have failed in animal tests, such as painkiller aspirin, which is toxic to rat embryos.

From BBC

To complicate things even further, allergic reactions can occur at lower levels of trigger-food exposure, and be more severe if the person is simultaneously taking non-steroidal inflammatory medications like aspirin, drinking alcohol or is sleep-deprived.

From Salon

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