guaiacum
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.guai·a·cum
noun \ˈgwī-ə-kəm, ˈgī-\Definition of GUAIACUM
1
: any of a genus (Guaiacum) of the caltrop family of tropical American evergreen trees and shrubs having pinnate leaves, usually blue flowers, and capsular fruit
2
a : the hard greenish-brown wood of a guaiacum (especially Guaiacum officinale) b : a resin with a faint balsamic odor that is obtained from the trunk of two guaiacums (G. officinale and G. sanctum) and often used as a clinical reagent
Origin of GUAIACUM
New Latin, from Spanish guayaco, from Taino guayacan
First Known Use: 1553
guai·a·cum
noun \ˈg(w)ī-ə-kəm\ (Medical Dictionary)Medical Definition of GUAIACUM
1
capitalized : a genus (family Zygophyllaceae) of tropical American trees and shrubs having pinnate leaves, usually blue flowers, and capsular fruit
2
: any tree or shrub of the genus Guaiacum
3
: a resin with a faint balsamic odor obtained as tears or masses from the trunk of either of two trees of the genus Guaiacum (G. officinale or G. sanctum) used formerly in medicine as a remedy for gout or rheumatism and now in various tests (as for peroxidases or bloodstains) because of the formation of a blue color on oxidation—see guaiac test
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