diuretic

di·uret·ic

adjective \ˌdī-yə-ˈre-tik\

Definition of DIURETIC

: tending to increase the excretion of urine <diuretic drugs>

— diuretic noun

— di·uret·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Origin of DIURETIC

Middle English duretik, diuretic, from Late Latin diureticus, from Greek diourētikos, from diourein to urinate, from dia- + ourein to urinate — more at urine

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Physiology Terms

eructation, flux, gustatory, menarche, myopia, senescence, torpor

Rhymes with DIURETIC

alphabetic, anesthetic, apathetic, arithmetic, asyndetic, copacetic, diabetic, diarrhetic, diathetic, dietetic, digenetic, diphyletic, empathetic, energetic, epithetic, geodetic, homiletic, Masoretic, nomothetic, sympathetic, synergetic, synesthetic

diuretic

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any drug that increases the flow of urine from the body. Diuretics promote removal of excess water, salts, poisons, and metabolic wastes to help relieve edema, kidney failure, or glaucoma. Most types act by decreasing the amount of fluid that is reabsorbed by the kidney's nephrons and passed back into the blood. Diuretics that allow the body to retain potassium are used for patients with hypertension or congestive heart failure.