emetic
Upper-Intermediate (B2)
IPA: /ɪˈmɛtɪk/
KK: /ɪˈmɛtɪk/
adjective
Definition
Causing a person to vomit.
Example
The doctor prescribed an emetic to help clear the patient's stomach.
Conversation
I heard that some plants have emetic properties.
Really? That sounds dangerous!
Yeah, they can make you throw up if you eat them.
I guess it's a good thing to know what to avoid then!
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
nauseating
sickening
vomitive
Antonyms
soothing
calming
pleasant
noun
Definition
A substance that makes a person vomit.
Example
The doctor gave her an emetic to help clear her stomach.
Conversation
Have you ever heard of an emetic?
No, what's that?
It's a substance that causes vomiting, usually used in medicine.
Root Explanation
**Emetic** → It is formed from "emetikos" (Greek, meaning causing vomiting) and the suffix "-ic" (meaning pertaining to). The word "emetic" refers to something that induces vomiting.
Memory Tip
Think of something that is 'pertaining to' ('-ic') causing 'vomiting' ('emetikos') — that's why emetic means something that makes you vomit.
Visually Confused Words
metic
hermetic
acemetic
metric
semeiotic
seismetic
hermetics
geometric