guaiacum
noun
guai·a·cum
| \ ˈgwī-ə-kəm
, ˈgī-
\
, ˈgī-
\
Definition of guaiacum
1
: any of a genus (Guaiacum) of the caltrop family of tropical American evergreen trees and shrubs having pinnate leaves, usually blue flowers, and capsular fruit
2a
: the hard greenish-brown wood of a guaiacum (especially Guaiacum officinale)
b
: a resin with a faint balsamic odor that is obtained from the trunk of two guaiacums (G. officinale and G. sanctum) and often used as a clinical reagent
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More Definitions for guaiacum
guaiacum
noun
guai·a·cum
| \ ˈg(w)ī-ə-kəm
\
\
Medical Definition of guaiacum
1
capitalized
: a genus (family Zygophyllaceae) of tropical American trees and shrubs having pinnate leaves, usually blue flowers, and capsular fruit
2
: any tree or shrub of the genus Guaiacum
3
: a resin with a faint balsamic odor obtained as tears or masses from the trunk of either of two trees of the genus Guaiacum (G. officinale or G. sanctum) used formerly in medicine as a remedy for gout or rheumatism and now in various tests (as for peroxidases or bloodstains) because of the formation of a blue color on oxidation — see guaiac test