Definition

1. Noun:
   • A barbiturate used as a hypnotic: "Diethylbarbituric acid" is a specific chemical compound belonging to the barbiturate class of drugs, historically used to induce sleep or sedation.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Diethylbarbituric acid was once a common prescription for insomnia.
  • The synthesis of diethylbarbituric acid marked an early development in sedative medications.

Advanced Usage

• Chemical/Pharmaceutical Context: The term is primarily used in technical, historical, or scientific discussions concerning pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, or the history of drugs.
  • The study compared the potency of diethylbarbituric acid to newer non-barbiturate hypnotics.

Variants and Related Words

• Barbital (n): This is the more common name for the same drug. "Diethylbarbituric acid" is the systematic chemical name, while "barbital" is its generic drug name.
  • Barbital, also known as diethylbarbituric acid, was introduced in the early 20th century.
• Barbiturate (n): The broader class of drugs to which this compound belongs.
  • Phenobarbital is another well-known barbiturate, differing in structure from diethylbarbituric acid.

Synonyms

• Barbital (n): The generic pharmaceutical name.
• Veronal (n): A former brand name for this drug.

Notes on Usage

• This is a highly specialized, technical term. In modern medical and lay contexts, the generic name "barbital" is more frequently encountered than the full chemical name "diethylbarbituric acid."
• Its use is largely historical, as barbiturates like barbital have been largely replaced by safer medications for treating sleep disorders.

Noun

1. a barbiturate used as a hypnotic