chloroform

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈklɒɹə(ʊ)ˌfɔː(ɹ)m/ See IPA manual

Freq #20055

Meanings

1

verb
to anesthetize with chloroform

Doctors used to put people under by chloroforming them.
2

noun
A halogenated hydrocarbon, trichloromethane, CHCl₃; it is a volatile, sweet-smelling liquid, used extensively as a solvent and formerly as an anesthetic.

Some assume that chloroform is a gas because it was given by inhalation.
3

verb
To treat, or to render unconscious, with chloroform.

1934, Ernest Bramah, The Bravo of London Geoffrey was first chloroformed, I think. The hand that picked Nipper up to dispose of him had certainly touched chloroform just before. Drugged; does that bring us nearer by taking us further away, I wonder?
4

noun
a volatile liquid haloform (CHCl3)

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 noun · a halogenated hydrocarbon,... ;guthrie's sweet whiskeysweet whiskeytrichloromethane

4 noun · a volatile liquid haloform... trichloromethane

Etymology

Borrowed from French chloroforme, portmanteau of terchloride (tertiary chloride, trichloride) and formyle (CH, an obsolete radical of formic acid) by Jean-Baptiste Dumas, from 1834. By surface analysis, chloro- + -form.

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# chloroform

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈklɒɹə(ʊ)ˌfɔː(ɹ)m/
**Frequency rank:** 20055

## Meanings
1. to anesthetize with chloroform
2. A halogenated hydrocarbon, trichloromethane, CHCl₃; it is a volatile, sweet-smelling liquid, used extensively as a solvent and formerly as an anesthetic.
3. To treat, or to render unconscious, with chloroform.
4. a volatile liquid haloform (CHCl3)

## Examples
- Doctors used to put people under by chloroforming them.
- Some assume that chloroform is a gas because it was given by inhalation.
- 1934, Ernest Bramah, The Bravo of London Geoffrey was first chloroformed, I think. The hand that picked Nipper up to dispose of him had certainly touched chloroform just before. Drugged; does that bring us nearer by taking us further away, I wonder?

## Etymology
Borrowed from French chloroforme, portmanteau of terchloride (tertiary chloride, trichloride) and formyle (CH, an obsolete radical of formic acid) by Jean-Baptiste Dumas, from 1834. By surface analysis, chloro- + -form.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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