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Definition of "jalap" []

  • A twining eastern Mexican vine (Ipomoea purga syn. I. jalapa) having tuberous roots that are dried, powdered, and used medicinally as a cathartic. (noun)
  • Any of several similar or related plants. (noun)
  • The dried tuberous roots of these plants. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "jalap" in a sentence
  • "A great quantity of jalap, which is so much used in medicine, is obtained from this place."
  • "I had also written pticularly to Dr. Goddard, Dr. Merret, & Dr. Whisler, Dr. Beniamin Worsley, & Dr. Keffler, concerning some vegetables of this country, & one especially w* "?" might be accounted a kind of jalap, but that it causeth to vomit as well as purge."
  • "For inflammatory diseases of the heart, the bowels, if constipated may be moved with compound tincture of jalap."