CATHARTIC
Dictionary entry overview: What does cathartic mean?
• CATHARTIC (noun)
The noun CATHARTIC has 1 sense:
1. a purging medicine; stimulates evacuation of the bowels
Familiarity information: CATHARTIC used as a noun is very rare.
• CATHARTIC (adjective)
The adjective CATHARTIC has 3 senses:
1. emotionally purging
2. emotionally purging (of e.g. art)
3. strongly laxative
Familiarity information: CATHARTIC used as an adjective is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• CATHARTIC (noun)
Meaning:
A purging medicine; stimulates evacuation of the bowels
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Synonyms:
aperient; cathartic; physic; purgative
Hypernyms ("cathartic" is a kind of...):
medicament; medication; medicinal drug; medicine ((medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "cathartic"):
aloes; bitter aloes (a purgative made from the leaves of aloe)
castor oil (a purgative extracted from the seed of the castor plant; used in paint and varnish as well as medically)
Epsom salts ((used with a singular noun) hydrated magnesium sulfate used as a laxative)
laxative (a mild cathartic)
milk of magnesia (purgative consisting of a milky white liquid suspension of magnesium hydroxide; used as a laxative and (in smaller doses) as an antacid)
Rochelle powder; Seidlitz powder; Seidlitz powders (an effervescing salt containing sodium bicarbonate and Rochelle salt and tartaric acid; used as a cathartic)
• CATHARTIC (adjective)
Meaning:
Emotionally purging
Synonyms:
cathartic; psychotherapeutic
Similar:
healthful (conducive to good health of body or mind)
Meaning:
Emotionally purging (of e.g. art)
Synonyms:
releasing; cathartic
Similar:
emotional (of more than usual emotion)
Domain category:
art; artistic creation; artistic production (the creation of beautiful or significant things)
Meaning:
Strongly laxative
Synonyms:
purgative; evacuant; cathartic
Similar:
laxative (stimulating evacuation of feces)
