Definition

A type of medicine that fights bacteria and is used to treat infections, especially in the urinary tract.

Example

The doctor prescribed trimethoprim to help clear the infection.

Conversation

I heard you were prescribed trimethoprim for your infection.

Yeah, my doctor said it should help clear it up quickly.

That sounds good! I hope it works well for you.

Thanks! I've read it can be really effective.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Trimethoprim is formed from "tri-" (meaning three), "meth" (from "methanol", referring to a specific chemical structure), and "prim" (from "primary", indicating the first or primary position in a chemical compound). The word refers to a compound that has three methyl groups and is primarily used as an antibiotic.

Memory Tip

Think of 'three' ('tri-') methyl groups in a chemical structure, which helps you remember that trimethoprim is a compound with three methyl components.

Visually Confused Words