aspirin

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A common drug used to reduce pain, fever, and swelling.

   She took an aspirin for her headache.

2. 2
   noun

   A single tablet of this drug.

   He swallowed two aspirins with a glass of water.

Genericized trademark of German Aspirin, from acetylierte Spirsäure (literally “acetylated spiraeic acid”). The trade name Aspirin is a registered trademark in some countries, but has entered the English language in generic usage, as various German trademarks were nullified in the United States after World War I (see also heroin).

Topics