furazolidone
Extremely Low/Very SpecializedTechnical/Scientific (Medical/Veterinary)
Definition
Meaning
A synthetic antibacterial and antiprotozoal medication used to treat certain infections.
An antimicrobial drug of the nitrofuran class, primarily used in veterinary medicine to treat enteric infections, and historically used in human medicine, now largely discontinued in many countries due to safety concerns.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Refers strictly to a specific pharmaceutical compound. No other meanings exist. It is a countable noun for individual doses/instances, but typically used as a non-count/mass noun for the substance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage; term is identical in medical/veterinary lexicon across both varieties. Spelling is the same.
Connotations
Neutral, purely scientific. May carry a slight connotation of being an older or less-preferred drug due to modern restrictions.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties, confined to very specific professional contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Substance] furazolidone is used to treat [Infection][Practitioner] prescribed/administered furazolidone for [Condition]The treatment regimen includes furazolidone.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in pharmacology, microbiology, veterinary science, and medical history papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Core usage context. Found in veterinary formularies, old medical texts, research on antimicrobial resistance.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The vet gave the calf some medicine called furazolidone.
- Furazolidone is an antimicrobial drug sometimes used in animal husbandry.
- Due to potential side effects, furazolidone is no longer commonly prescribed for humans.
- The study investigated the efficacy of furazolidone in treating giardiasis in poultry compared to modern alternatives.
- Historical use of furazolidone in traveller's diarrhoea has been superseded by safer antimicrobials with fewer adverse effects.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'FURY (fighting infection) + AZO (a chemical group) + OLID (solid treatment) + ONE (a chemical suffix)' -> a solid drug fighting infection.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEDICINE IS A WEAPON (against infection).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with similar-sounding drug names like 'furadonin' (nitrofurantoin), which is a different nitrofuran.
- The '-one' suffix is chemical, not a plural indicator.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing the 'zoli' syllable as 'zoli' with a short 'o'.
- Using it as a general term for antibiotic.
- Misspelling as 'furazolinone' or 'furazolodine'.
Practice
Quiz
In what primary domain is the term 'furazolidone' currently most relevant?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Its use in human medicine has been largely discontinued in many Western countries due to concerns about potential carcinogenicity and the availability of safer alternatives, though it may still be found in some regions.
It is a synthetic antibacterial and antiprotozoal agent belonging to the nitrofuran class of drugs.
Most learners will never need it. It is essential only for specific professionals (vets, pharmacists, medical historians) or translators working with highly technical veterinary or pharmaceutical documents.
Yes. The standard British pronunciation is /ˌfjʊərəˈzɒlɪdəʊn/ (fyoor-uh-ZOL-i-dohn), and the American is /ˌfjʊrəˈzɑːlɪdoʊn/ (fyoor-uh-ZAH-li-dohn).