tetracaine

T1E1T1R1A1C3A1I1N1E1
US/ˈtɛ.tɹəˌkeɪn/

noun

A crystalline basic ester C₁₅H₂₄N₂O₂ that is closely related chemically to procaine and is used chiefly in the form of its hydrochloride as a local anesthetic.

Similar
amethocainepontocaine
OriginGerman Kokain ← English tetra- ← Ancient Greek τετρᾰ- (tetră-) →
UncommonScrabble 12
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Meanings

nountetracaine (countable and uncountable, plural tetracaines)

plural tetracaines

  1. countableuncountablemedicineA crystalline basic ester C₁₅H₂₄N₂O₂ that is closely related chemically to procaine and is used chiefly in the form of its hydrochloride as a local anesthetic.

    Synonyms: amethocaine, pontocaine

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA crystalline basic ester C₁₅H₂₄N₂O₂ that is closely related chemically to procaine and is used chiefly in the form of its hydrochloride as a local anesthetic.

Similar
amethocainepontocaine
Also see
amethocainepontocaine

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*kʷetwóres
  2. Proto-Hellenic*kʷétwores
  3. Ancient Greekτέσσᾰρες (téssăres)
  4. Ancient Greekτετρᾰ- (tetră-)
  5. Englishtetra-
  6. GermanKokain
  7. Englishtetracaine

From tetra- + -caine (“local anesthetic”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

tetracaine. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tetracaine

MLA

“tetracaine.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tetracaine. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tetracaine,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tetracaine.

Source: tetracaine on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.