Definition of ketamine
: a general anesthetic that is administered intravenously and intramuscularly in the form of its hydrochloride C13H16ClNO·HCl and that is used illicitly usually by being inhaled in powdered form especially for the dreamlike or hallucinogenic state it produces ◆Ketamine is also called Special K when used as a recreational drug
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Recent Examples of ketamine from the Web
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The bird had a total of 178 pills of ketamine, which is often used as a club drug, the BBC reported.
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In that same time period, ketamine use also decreased by two thirds, but the consumption of crack, marijuana, and ecstasy remained somewhat constant.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ketamine'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of ketamine
ket- + amine
First Known Use: 1966
Medical Dictionary
ketamine
playMedical Definition of ketamine
: a general anesthetic that is administered intravenously or intramuscularly in the form of its hydrochloride C13H16ClNO·HCl and that is used illicitly usually by being inhaled in powdered form especially for the dreamlike or hallucinogenic state it produces—see special k
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