Definition

A chemical compound used in medicine to treat certain types of cancer and as an insect sterilant.

Example

The doctor prescribed thiotepa as part of the chemotherapy treatment.

Conversation

Have you heard about thiotepa?

Yeah, I think it's used in some cancer treatments, right?

Exactly, it's an alkylating agent that can help with tumors.

That’s pretty interesting — I didn’t know it had other uses too.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Thiotepa is derived from the Greek word 'thio-' (meaning sulfur) and 'tepa' (from 'tepa', a variant of 'tepa', meaning to cover or to protect). The word refers to a compound that contains sulfur and is used in medicinal contexts, particularly in cancer treatment, indicating its protective properties.

Memory Tip

Think of 'sulfur' ('thio-') being used to 'cover' or 'protect' ('tepa') in medical treatments, which helps you remember that thiotepa is a compound used for protection in cancer therapy.

Visually Confused Words