chloroform

/'klɔrəfɔ:m/

Thân thiện

A scientist carefully labels a bottle of chloroform in the laboratory.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • A volatile liquid haloform (CHCl₃); formerly used as an anesthetic: Chloroform is a colorless, dense, sweet-smelling organic compound. Its primary historical use was as a general inhalation anesthetic during medical procedures, though this use has been largely discontinued due to safety concerns.

2. Verb:

   • To anesthetize with chloroform: The action of administering chloroform to a person or animal to induce unconsciousness.

Usage Examples

• Noun: The surgeon had a bottle of chloroform ready before the operation in the 19th century.The chemical formula for chloroform is CHCl₃.

• Verb: In early medical practices, doctors would chloroform patients to perform surgery without pain.The kidnapper threatened to chloroform his victim.

Advanced Usage

• Historical Context: Chloroform's use as an anesthetic was pioneered in the mid-19th century. Its popularity declined due to the risk of fatal cardiac arrhythmia and the development of safer alternatives.
• Chemical and Industrial Use: Beyond medicine, chloroform is used as a solvent in laboratories and in the production of other chemicals. It is also a known environmental pollutant.

Variants and Related Words

• Chloroformed (verb, past tense/adjective): The state of having been anesthetized with chloroform.
• Chloroforming (verb, present participle/gerund): The act of administering chloroform.

Synonyms

• Anesthetic (noun): A substance that induces insensitivity to pain.
• Trichloromethane (noun): The systematic IUPAC name for chloroform.
• Put under (verb phrase): To anesthetize someone (general term).

Related Phrases

• "To put someone under chloroform": An older phrase meaning to anesthetize someone using chloroform.
• "Chloroform rag": A cloth soaked in chloroform, historically used to administer the anesthetic.

Notes on Meaning

• The noun form refers specifically to the chemical compound.
• The verb form is derived from the noun and is almost exclusively used in the context of administering the substance as an anesthetic, often with a connotation of force or crime in modern contexts (e.g., kidnapping). Its medical use is now historical.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a volatile liquid haloform (CHCl3); formerly used as an anesthetic
   • chloroform was the first inhalation anesthetic

Verb

1. anesthetize with chloroform
   • Doctors used to put people under by chloroforming them

Từ đồng nghĩa

• trichloromethane