Definition of: ipecac

(ip′ə·kak) noun
1. A South American creeping or shrubby plant (Cephaelis ipecacuanha) of the madder family, yielding the medicinal alkaloids emetine and cephaeline.
2. An extract or tincture of the root of this plant, generally used as an emetic, but also having cathartic properties; also, the root itself. Also ip·e·cac·u·an·ha (ip′ə·kak′y·ä′nə). [<Pg. ipecacuanha <Tupian ipi–kaa–guéne <ipe little + kaa tree, herb + guéne causing sickness]