acetaminophen (n.)

U.S. name for "para-acetylaminophenol," 1960, composed of syllables from the chemical name: acetyl, a derivative of acetic (q.v.; also see acetylene) + amino- + phenol. In Britain, the same substance is paracetamol.

Entries linking to acetaminophen

acetic (adj.)

1808 (in acetic acid), from French acétique "pertaining to vinegar, sour, having the properties of vinegar," from Latin acetum "vinegar" (properly vinum acetum "wine turned sour;" see vinegar), originally past participle of acere "be sharp; be sour" (related to acer "sharp"), from PIE *ak-eto-, suffixed form of root *ak- "be sharp, rise (out) to a point, pierce."

acetylene (n.)

gaseous hydrocarbon, 1860, from French acétylène, coined by French chemist Pierre Eugène Marcellin Berthelot from chemical ending -ene + acetyl, which was coined from acetic + -yl in 1839 by German chemist Justus von Liebig. Liebig's coinage was in reference to a different radical; acetyl was transferred to its current sense in 1850s, but Berthelot's coinage was based on the original use of acetyl.

amino-

phenol

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updated on October 18, 2016

Definitions of acetaminophen from WordNet

acetaminophen (n.)

an analgesic for mild pain but not for inflammation; also used as an antipyretic; (Datril, Tylenol, Panadol, Phenaphen, Tempra, and Anacin III are trademarks of brands of acetaminophen tablets);

Synonyms: Datril / Tylenol / Panadol / Phenaphen / Tempra / Anacin III

From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near acetaminophen

acerbic

acerbity

acervate

acervulus

acescent

acetaminophen

acetate

acetic

acetification

aceto-

acetone