Laxative Definition
lăksə-tĭv
laxatives
noun
laxatives
A food or drug that stimulates evacuation of the bowels.
American Heritage Medicine
Any laxative medicine or substance; mild cathartic.
Webster's New World
adjective
Stimulating evacuation of the bowels.
American Heritage Medicine
Tending to make lax; specif., making the bowels loose, as in relieving constipation.
Webster's New World
Causing looseness or relaxation, especially of the bowels.
American Heritage Medicine
Antonyms:
Other Word Forms of Laxative
Noun
Singular:
laxative
Plural:
laxativesOrigin of Laxative
-
Middle English from Old French laxatif from Medieval Latin laxātīvus preventing constipation from Late Latin assuaging from Latin laxātus past participle of laxāre to relax from laxus loose lax
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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