Main Entry: bar·bi·tu·rate

Pronunciation: \bär-ˈbi-chə-rət, -ˌrāt; ˌbär-bə-ˈtyu̇r-ət, -ˈtu̇r-, -ˌāt; ÷bär-ˈbi-chə-wət\

Function: noun

Date: 1928

1 : a salt or ester of barbituric acid
2 : any of various derivatives of barbituric acid (as phenobarbital) that are used especially as sedatives, hypnotics, and antispasmodics and are often addictive