Definition

Noun: 1. A medicinal crystalline salt: Sodium salicylate is a chemical compound, the sodium salt of salicylic acid. It is used primarily for its therapeutic effects to reduce pain (analgesic) and fever (antipyretic).

Usage

• Sodium salicylate is administered as a medication.
• It is typically used to treat conditions like fever, mild to moderate pain, and inflammation, though other salicylates like aspirin are now more common.

Examples

• Medical Context:
  • The doctor prescribed sodium salicylate to manage the patient's rheumatic pain.
  • Before the widespread use of aspirin, sodium salicylate was a common antipyretic.

Advanced Usage

• Chemical and Historical Context: While largely superseded by aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) in general medicine, sodium salicylate remains a compound of interest in chemical synthesis and the history of pharmacology.

Variants and Related Words

• Salicylate (n): The general term for salts or esters of salicylic acid, which share similar properties.
• Salicylic Acid (n): The organic acid from which sodium salicylate is derived.

Synonyms

• Analgesic
• Antipyretic
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) - (broader category)

Notes on Meaning

This term refers specifically to a single, defined chemical compound with a specific medicinal use. It is not used idiomatically.

Noun

1. a crystalline salt used as an analgesic and antipyretic