colchicine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2+ (Very Low/Technical)Medical, Pharmaceutical, Scientific (Botany/Genetics). Highly specialized.
Quick answer
What does “colchicine” mean?
A toxic organic compound and medication derived from the autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale), primarily used to treat gout and familial Mediterranean fever.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A toxic organic compound and medication derived from the autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale), primarily used to treat gout and familial Mediterranean fever.
In botany and genetics, a substance used to inhibit cell division by preventing spindle formation, useful in plant breeding to induce polyploidy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Pronunciations differ slightly (see IPA).
Connotations
Identical; carries strong connotations of specialized medical/scientific knowledge. In both varieties, laypersons are unlikely to know the term.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse, identical in specialized medical/scientific contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “colchicine” in a Sentence
Colchicine is used to treat [disease].The doctor prescribed [dosage] of colchicine.[Subject] is/are taking colchicine for [condition].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in pharmacology, medicine, botany, and genetics research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used unless the speaker has a condition like gout.
Technical
The primary context. Precise term in clinical notes, pharmacology, and cytogenetics protocols.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “colchicine”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “colchicine”
- Mispronunciation: /koʊlˈtʃaɪ.siːn/ or /ˈkɒl.kɪ.siːn/.
- Misspelling: 'colchisin', 'colchacine'.
- Assuming it is a common painkiller like ibuprofen.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Its most common medical use is for the treatment and prevention of acute gout flares and familial Mediterranean fever.
Not in the general sense like paracetamol or ibuprofen. It is a specific anti-inflammatory agent that treats the underlying inflammation in conditions like gout, which relieves pain as a result.
No, in most countries, including the UK and US, colchicine is a prescription-only medication due to its potential toxicity and need for precise dosing.
In botany and genetics, colchicine is used in laboratories to induce polyploidy in plants by preventing chromosome segregation during cell division.
A toxic organic compound and medication derived from the autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale), primarily used to treat gout and familial Mediterranean fever.
Colchicine is usually medical, pharmaceutical, scientific (botany/genetics). highly specialized. in register.
Colchicine: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒl.tʃɪ.siːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːl.tʃɪˌsiːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'COLD chiropractor SEEs a SINew' -> COLCHICINE is a medicine for the joint pain (sinew) of gout, which can flare up in cold weather.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEDICINE IS A PRECISE TOOL / CHEMICAL IS AN AGENT (e.g., 'Colchicine works by inhibiting microtubule polymerization.').
Practice
Quiz
Colchicine is primarily derived from which plant?