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Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
camphor
noun
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ His studies laid the foundations for his later researches on camphor and the mechanism of aromatic substitution.
▪ I smelled camphor and looked up into the bright, sun-reflecting glasses of my uncle.
▪ It smelt of camphor as if the old clothes hanging on the racks had just been taken out of ancient chests.
▪ Others put their faith in camphor.
▪ Smell of soap, cedarwood, camphor.
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Camphor

Camphor \Cam"phor\ (k[a^]m"f[~e]r), n. [OE. camfere, F. camphre (cf. It. canfora, Sp. camfora, alcanfor, LL. canfora, camphora, NGr. kafoyra`), fr. Ar. k[=a]f[=u]r, prob. fr. Skr. karp[=u]ra.]

  1. A tough, white, aromatic resin, or gum, obtained from different species of the Laurus family, esp. from Cinnamomum camphara (the Laurus camphora of Linn[ae]us.). Camphor, C10H16O, is volatile and fragrant, and is used in medicine as a diaphoretic, a stimulant, or sedative.

  2. originally, a gum resembling ordinary camphor, obtained from a tree ( Dryobalanops aromatica formerly Dryobalanops camphora) growing in Sumatra and Borneo; now applied to its main constituent, a terpene alcohol obtainable as a white solid C10H18O, called also Borneo camphor, Malay camphor, Malayan camphor, camphor of Borneo, Sumatra camphor, bornyl alcohol, camphol, and borneol. The isomer from Dryobalanops is dextrorotatory; the levoratatory form is obtainable from other species of plants, and the racemic mixture may be obtained by reduction of camphor. It is used in perfumery, and for manufacture of its esters. See Borneol.

    Note: The name camphor is also applied to a number of bodies of similar appearance and properties, as cedar camphor, obtained from the red or pencil cedar ( Juniperus Virginiana), and peppermint camphor, or menthol, obtained from the oil of peppermint.

    Camphor oil (Chem.), name variously given to certain oil-like products, obtained especially from the camphor tree.

    Camphor tree, a large evergreen tree ( Cinnamomum Camphora) with lax, smooth branches and shining triple-nerved lanceolate leaves, probably native in China, but now cultivated in most warm countries. Camphor is collected by a process of steaming the chips of the wood and subliming the product.

Camphor

Camphor \Cam"phor\, v. t. To impregnate or wash with camphor; to camphorate. [R.]
--Tatler.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
camphor

substance extensively used in medicine, early 14c., caumfre, from Old French camphre, from Medieval Latin camfora, from Arabic kafur, perhaps via Sanskrit karpuram, from Malay kapur "camphor tree." Related: Camphorated.

Wiktionary
camphor

n. (context organic compound English) A white transparent waxy crystalline isoprenoid ketone, with a strong pungent odour, used in pharmacy.

WordNet
camphor

n. a resin obtained from the camphor tree; used in making celluloid and liniment

Wikipedia
Camphor

Camphor is a waxy, flammable, white or transparent solid with a strong aroma. It is a terpenoid with the chemical formula C H O. It is found in the wood of the camphor laurel ( Cinnamomum camphora), a large evergreen tree found in Asia (particularly in Sumatra, Indonesia and Borneo) and also of the unrelated kapur tree, a tall timber tree from the same region. It also occurs in some other related trees in the laurel family, notably Ocotea usambarensis. The oil in rosemary leaves ( Rosmarinus officinalis), in the mint family, contains 10 to 20% camphor, while camphorweed ( Heterotheca) only contains some 5%. Camphor can also be synthetically produced from oil of turpentine. It is used for its scent, as an ingredient in cooking (mainly in India), as an embalming fluid, for medicinal purposes, and in religious ceremonies. A major source of camphor in Asia is camphor basil (the parent of African blue basil).

The molecule has two possible enantiomers as shown in the structural diagrams. The structure on the left is the naturally occurring (R)-form, while its mirror image shown on the right is the (S)-form.

Norcamphor is a camphor derivative with the three methyl groups replaced by hydrogen.

Camphor (album)

Camphor is a David Sylvian compilation album released in 2002 as a companion to Everything and Nothing. The focus is on his instrumental work. The album, nonetheless, has two previously unreleased tracks: "The Song Which Gives the Key to Perfection" and "Camphor".

"Wave" has been cut to the last segment of the original song, so that the vocal parts have been deleted, and it has been orchestrated. In "Mother and Child", the vocal parts have been replaced by the trumpet. "Upon This Earth" is shorter and re-recorded.

It was released in two versions. A standard single disc jewel case (CDVE 962) and as a limited edition 2CD digipak (CDVEX 962).

Camphor (disambiguation)

Camphor is a chemical compound.

Camphor may also refer to:

  • Camphor (album), a 2002 David Sylvian album
  • Camphor Hall, a residence hall at Dillard University
    • Alexander Priestly Camphor (1865–1919), an American Missionary Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church and namesake of Camphor Hall
  • Camphor tree, a common name for the evergreen Cinnamomum camphora

Usage examples of "camphor".

Nurse Banks went to the side table, took up the ampoule of camphor, went through the pantomime of filling a syringe and returned to the patient.

For in it grow camphor, cubebs, cardamons, nutmegs, and many other precious spices.

I thought that with my matches and my camphor I could contrive to keep my path illuminated through the woods.

The pebbled beach is crowded with families: shoeless fathers in lounge suits and high white collars, mothers in blouses and skirts startled out of war-long camphor sleep, kids running all over in sunsuits, nappies, rompers, short pants, knee socks, Eton hats.

The vapours of camphor, alcohol, chloroform, sulphuric and nitric ether, are poisonous in moderately large doses, but in small doses serve as narcotics or, anaesthetics, greatly delaying the subsequent action of meat.

I should have imagined the anaesthetist would have given the camphor and the hyoscine injections.

So that camphor acts as a stimulant, and it is the only known stimulant for plants.

We may conclude that a small dose of camphor in solution is a powerful stimulant to Drosera.

Vogel that camphor is a stimulant in other ways to various plants and seeds.

Hence alcohol of the above strength is not poisonous, nor does it stimulate the leaves like camphor does.

Cabbage, decoction of, action on Drosera, 83 Cadmium chloride, action on Drosera, 183 Caesium, chloride of, action on Drosera, 181 Calcium, salts of, action on Drosera, 182 Camphor, action on Drosera, 209 Canby, Dr.

Veratrine, action on Drosera, 204 Vessels in leaves of Drosera, 247 of Dionaea, 314 Vogel, on effects of camphor on plants, 209 W.

The camphor injection helped matters at the time but the pulse is still unsatisfactory.

Along here, small syringe for the camphor, another small syringe for the hyoscinethey hold twenty-five minims each.

Banks might have substituted hyoscine for camphor when she prepared the syringe, but I found that the stock solution of hyoscine contained the full amount minus one dose that was accounted for.