counterirritant

[ koun-ter-ir-i-tuh nt ]
/ ˌkaʊn tərˈɪr ɪ tənt /

noun

Medicine/Medical. an agent for producing inflammation in superficial tissues to relieve pain or inflammation in deeper structures.
any irritation or annoyance that draws attention away from another.

adjective

Medicine/Medical. of or acting as a counterirritant.

Origin of counterirritant

First recorded in 1850–55; counter- + irritant

Example sentences from the Web for counterirritant

British Dictionary definitions for counterirritant

counterirritant
/ (ˌkaʊntərˈɪrɪtənt) /

noun

an agent that causes a superficial irritation of the skin and thereby relieves inflammation of deep structures

adjective

producing a counterirritation

Derived forms of counterirritant

counterirritation, noun

Medical definitions for counterirritant

counterirritant
[ koun′tər-îrĭ-tənt ]

n.

An agent that induces local inflammation to relieve inflammation in underlying or adjacent tissues.

adj.

Relating to or producing counterirritation.