emetic
Low-frequency/C2Formal, Medical/Technical
Definition
Meaning
A substance that causes vomiting.
Something that provokes intense disgust or revulsion; metaphorically causing a 'sickening' emotional or psychological reaction.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a noun for the substance. Can also be used attributively as an adjective (e.g., 'emetic properties'). Its metaphorical use is literary or rhetorical.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Both use it in medical and figurative contexts.
Connotations
Figurative use carries a strong, often hyperbolic, negative aesthetic or moral judgment in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare in general usage in both dialects; slightly more common in medical/clinical writing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[N] act as an emetic[ADJ] emetic [N] (e.g., emetic substance)[It is] emetic [to-VP] (figurative)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to the word itself.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in medical, pharmacological, or toxicology texts.
Everyday
Rare. Might be understood in context (e.g., 'They used ipecac as an emetic.')
Technical
Standard term in medicine, pharmacy, and first aid.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The doctor decided to emetic the patient. (NOTE: 'emetic' is NOT standard as a verb. Use 'induce vomiting' or 'administer an emetic'.)
American English
- (Same as British - not used as a verb.)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form. Use 'in an emetic way' or similar.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form.)
adjective
British English
- Ipecacuanha has powerful emetic properties.
- The film's sentimentality was almost emetic in its excess.
American English
- The vet kept an emetic solution on hand for poison cases.
- He found the politician's lies emetic.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Too advanced for A2. Not applicable.)
- (Rare at B1. A possible example:) In some poison emergencies, doctors use an emetic.
- Salt water can act as a crude emetic if necessary.
- The graphic violence in the film had an almost emetic effect on some viewers.
- The physician considered the risks before administering the potent emetic.
- She argued that the regime's propaganda was a cultural emetic, designed to purge dissenting thought.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'EMETIC' makes you 'EMpty your sTomach ICkily.'
Conceptual Metaphor
DISGUST/REJECTION IS VOMITING (e.g., 'His hypocrisy was an emetic.').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с "эстетика" (aesthetics).
- Не переводить дословно как "метеорит" (meteorite).
- Ближайший русский эквивалент — "рвотное средство".
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing as /iːˈmɛtɪk/ (long 'e').
- Confusing spelling with 'emphatic' or 'aesthetic'.
- Using it as a common synonym for 'disgusting' in casual speech.
Practice
Quiz
In a figurative sense, calling a piece of art 'emetic' most likely means it is:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency word used primarily in medical, formal, or literary contexts.
Yes, attributively. For example: 'emetic substance', 'emetic effect'. It describes something that induces vomiting or, figuratively, intense disgust.
An anti-emetic, which is a drug that prevents or relieves nausea and vomiting.
An emetic induces vomiting (emptying the stomach upwards), while a laxative promotes bowel movements (emptying the intestines downwards). Both are types of purgatives.