chloroform
[ klawr-uh-fawrm, klohr- ]
/ ˈklɔr əˌfɔrm, ˈkloʊr- /
noun
Also called trichloromethane. Chemistry, Pharmacology.
a colorless, volatile, nonflammable, slightly water-soluble, pungent, sweet-tasting liquid, CHCl3, usually derived from acetone, acetaldehyde, or ethyl alcohol by the reaction of chloride of lime: used chiefly in medicine as a solvent and formerly as an anesthetic.
verb (used with object)
to administer chloroform to, especially in order to anesthetize, make unconscious, or kill.
to put chloroform on (a cloth, object, etc.).
OTHER WORDS FROM chloroform
chlo·ro·for·mic, adjective pre·chlo·ro·form, verb (used with object)Words nearby chloroform
Example sentences from the Web for chloroform
British Dictionary definitions for chloroform
chloroform
/ (ˈklɔːrəˌfɔːm) /
noun
a heavy volatile liquid with a sweet taste and odour, used as a solvent and cleansing agent and in refrigerants: formerly used as an inhalation anaesthetic. Formula: CHCl 3
Systematic name: trichloromethane
Word Origin for chloroform
C19: from
chloro- +
form (
yl) (in an obsolete sense that applied to a CH radical)
Medical definitions for chloroform
chloroform
[ klôr′ə-fôrm′ ]
n.
A clear, colorless, heavy, sweet-smelling liquid used sometimes as a general anesthetic; it has generally been replaced by less toxic, more easily controlled agents.
Scientific definitions for chloroform
chloroform
[ klôr′ə-fôrm′ ]
A colorless, toxic, sweet-tasting liquid formed by combining methane with chlorine. It is used as a solvent and was once widely used as an anesthetic. Chemical formula: CHCl3.