Atropine (Noun)
Meaning
A poisonous crystalline alkaloid extracted from the nightshade family; used as an antispasmodic and to dilate the eye pupil; also administered in large amounts as an antidote for organophosphate nerve agents or organophosphate insecticides.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The patient was given atropine to relieve the muscle spasms in her abdomen.
- Atropine is commonly used by eye doctors to dilate the pupils before an exam to get a better look at the retina.
- The military has stockpiled atropine as a treatment for exposure to chemical nerve agents.
- The paramedics administered atropine to the farmer who had been poisoned by an organophosphate insecticide.
- In emergency situations involving exposure to pesticides, atropine can be a lifesaving antidote.