febrifuge

antipyretic

 [an″te-, an″ti-pi-ret´ik]

1. effective against fever; called also antifebrile.

2. something having this effect, such as a cold pack, aspirin, or quinine; antipyretic drugs dilate the blood vessels near the surface of the skin, thereby allowing more blood to flow through the skin, where it can be cooled by the air. An antipyretic can also increase perspiration, the evaporation of which cools the body. Called also febricide and febrifuge.

an·ti·py·ret·ic

(an'tē-pī-ret'ik),

1. Reducing fever. Synonym(s): antifebrile, febrifugal

2. An agent that reduces fever (for example, acetaminophen, aspirin). Synonym(s): febrifuge

[anti- + G. pyretos, fever]

febrifuge

(fĕb′rə-fyo͞oj′)

n.

A medication that reduces fever; an antipyretic.

adj.

Acting to reduce fever.

febrifuge

See antipyretic.

febrifuge

noun An older term for an agent which reduces fever; antipyretic.

feb·ri·fuge

(feb'ri-fyūzh)

A substance that reduces fever.

[L. febris, fever, + fugo, to put to flight]

febrifuge

Anything that reduces a fever. From Latin febris , fever and fugare , to drive away.

Febrifuge

A plant substance that acts to prevent or reduce fever.

Mentioned in: Echinacea

febrifuge,

n temperature-reducing aid. See also antipyretic.

febrifuge

an agent that reduces body temperature in fever; antipyretic.