camphor – מילון אנגלי-אנגלי
camphor
n.
type of fragrant resin used in medicine and in the production of perfumes
Camphor
Camphor is a
waxy,
flammable,
white or
transparent solid with a strong
aromatic odor. It is a
terpenoid with the
chemical formula C10H16O. It is found in the wood of the
camphor laurel (
Cinnamomum camphora), a large
evergreen tree found in Asia (particularly in
Sumatra,
Indonesia and
Borneo) and also of the unrelated
kapur tree, a tall timber tree from the same region. It also occurs in some other related trees in the laurel family, notably
Ocotea usambarensis. Dried
rosemary leaves (
Rosmarinus officinalis), in the mint family, contain up to 20 amphor. Camphor can also be synthetically produced from oil of
turpentine. It is used for its scent, as an ingredient in cooking (mainly in
India), as an
embalming fluid, for medicinal purposes, and in religious ceremonies. A major source of camphor in Asia is camphor basil (the parent of
African blue basil).
camphor
Noun
1. a resin obtained from the camphor tree; used in making celluloid and liniment
(hypernym) natural resin
(substance-holonym) mothball, camphor ball
(derivation) camphorate
Camphor
(v. t.)
To impregnate or wash with camphor; to camphorate.
(n.)
A tough, white, aromatic resin, or gum, obtained from different species of the Laurus family, esp. from Cinnamomum camphara (the Laurus camphara of Linnaeus.). Camphor, C10H16O, is volatile and fragrant, and is used in medicine as a diaphoretic, a stimulant, or sedative.
(n.)
A gum resembling ordinary camphor, obtained from a tree (Dryobalanops camphora) growing in Sumatra and Borneo; -- called also Malay camphor, camphor of Borneo, or borneol. See Borneol.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), edited by Noah Porter.
About
camphor
A substance that comes from the wood and bark of the camphor tree or is made in the laboratory. It has a very unique smell and taste and is used in commercial products (for example, mothballs). Camphor is used in topical anti-infective and anti-pruritic (anti-itching) agents.