ipecacuanha noun. [,ɪpɪkakjʊ'anǝ] E17.
[Portuguese from Tupi-Guarani ipekaaguéne, from ipe small + kaa leaves + guéne vomit.]
1. The root of Cephaelis ipecacuanha, a Brazilian plant of the madder family; an extract or preparation of this, formerly much used as an emetic and expectorant. Also, the plant itself. E17.

2. Any of various other plants with emetic roots; a preparation of such a root. E18.
American ipecacuanha a plant of the rose family, Gillenia trifoliata, of the US. bastard ipecacuanha a S. American plant, Asclepias curassavica (family Asclepiadaceae). black ipecacuanha, Peruvian ipecacuanha a S. American plant of the madder family, Psychotria emetica, used as an inferior substitute for ipecacuanha. white ipecacuanha a S. American plant of the violet family, Hybanthus calceolaria.

Comb.:
ipecacuanha wine the filtered infusion of ipecacuanha root in wine.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲