quinine

2 definitions found

quinine - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Quinine \Qui"nine\, n. [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.]
     [1913 Webster]

quinine - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  quinine
      n 1: a bitter alkaloid extracted from chinchona bark; used in
           malaria therapy