|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
camphor
camphor , C 10 H 16 O, white, crystalline solid ketone with a characteristic pungent odor and taste. It melts at 176°C and boils at 204°C. The natural variety, Japan camphor, is obtained by steam distillation of the wood of the camphor tree ( Cinnamomum camphora ) native to China, Japan, and Taiwan (its chief natural source). Since this source is inadequate, camphor is widely synthesized from α-pinene, which is obtained from oil of turpentine. Camphor is widely used as a plasticizer in the manufacture of celluloid and some lacquers. It is used in medicine as a stimulant, a diaphoretic, and an inhalant. Camphor ice is a mixture, containing principally camphor and wax, used for external application. Camphor is practically insoluble in water but soluble in alcohol, ether, chloroform, and other solvents. The alcoholic solution is known as spirits of camphor. |
|
|
Cite this article
"camphor." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "camphor." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-camphor.html "camphor." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-camphor.html |
|
camphor
camphor Organic chemical compound (C10H16O). It has a strong odour, which also occurs in the wood and leaves of the camphor tree, Cinammonum camphora, native to Taiwan. Camphor is used in medicine for liniments, in the manufacture of celluloid, lacquers and explosives, and as an ingredient of mothballs.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"camphor." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "camphor." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-camphor.html "camphor." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-camphor.html |
|
camphor
camphor XV. Early forms are various, both disyll. and trisyll., camphire prevailing from XV to c. 1800. — OF. camphore (later and mod. camphre) or medL. camphora — (prob. through Sp. alcanfor) Arab. kāfūr, ult. — Skr. karpūra-.
|
|
|
Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "camphor." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "camphor." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-camphor.html T. F. HOAD. "camphor." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-camphor.html |
|
camphor
cam·phor / ˈkamfər/ • n. a white, volatile, crystalline substance, a terpenoid ketone, C10H16O, with an aromatic smell and bitter taste, occurring in certain essential oils. |
|
|
Cite this article
"camphor." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "camphor." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-camphor.html "camphor." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-camphor.html |
|
camphor
camphor (kam-fer) n. a crystalline aromatic substance obtained from the tree Cinnamomum camphora. It is used in liniments, creams, and sprays as a counterirritant and antipruritic.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"camphor." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "camphor." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-camphor.html "camphor." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-camphor.html |
|
camphor
camphor See CINNAMOMUM.
|
|
|
Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "camphor." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "camphor." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-camphor.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "camphor." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-camphor.html |
|
camphor
camphor
•chaffer, gaffer, Jaffa, kafir, Staffa
•alfalfa, alpha, Balfour, Wadi Halfa
•camphor, chamfer
•Luftwaffe
•laugher, staffer
•heifer, zephyr
•chafer, trefa, wafer
•cockchafer
•feoffor, reefer
•differ, sniffer
•pilfer • titfer • umbellifer • Jennifer
•conifer • apocrypha • thurifer
•crucifer, Lucifer
•Potiphar • aquifer
•cipher, encipher, fifer, Haifa, knifer, lifer
•coffer, cougher, Offa, offer, proffer, quaffer, scoffer
•golfer • phosphor • Forfar • Altdorfer
•chauffeur, gofer, goffer, gopher, loafer, Nuku'alofa, Ophir, shofar, sofa
•Fraunhofer
•hoofer, loofah, opera buffa, roofer, spoofer, tufa, woofer
•waterproofer
•bluffer, buffer, duffer, puffer, snuffer, suffer
•sulphur (US sulfur) • telegrapher
•calligrapher, serigrapher
•autobiographer, bibliographer, biographer, cartographer, choreographer, cinematographer, crystallographer, geographer, Hagiographa, hagiographer, iconographer, lexicographer, lithographer, oceanographer, palaeographer (US paleographer), photographer, pornographer, radiographer, stenographer, topographer, typographer
•philosopher, theosopher
•metaphor • Christopher • surfer
•Bonhoeffer • windsurfer
|
|
|
Cite this article
"camphor." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "camphor." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-camphor.html "camphor." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-camphor.html |
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
