Paracetamol

/ˌpɛrəˈsɛtəˌmɔl/ noun

Definition

A common over-the-counter medication used to reduce fever and relieve mild to moderate pain like headaches.

Etymology

From 'para-' (beside) + 'acetyl' + 'amine' + 'ol' (chemical compound naming). Synthesized in 1877 and marketed as Tylenol; 'paracetamol' is the international nonproprietary name.

Kelly Says

Paracetamol is one of the safest painkillers ever created, but overdose can cause severe liver damage—showing that 'natural' or 'safe' chemicals are only safe within careful limits.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.