Pharmacologic Substance
ethers Audio
e·ther [ ee-ther ]
Subclass of:
Organic Chemicals
Definitions related to ethers:
  • An organic compound in which two carbon atoms are linked through an oxygen atom (C-O-C). An ether may be a product of the condensation of alcohols. Ether also refers loosely to diethyl-ether, a colorless, volatile, highly inflammable liquid used in industry and biomedical research, and historically important as an anesthetic agent. In vivo, ether acts similarly to alcohol and chloroform, but its stimulant action on the heart is much more marked. Ether is a rapidly diffusible stimulant. (NCI04)
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Organic compound having an oxygen atom bonded to two carbon atoms, general formula R-O-R'.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
  • Organic compounds having two alkyl or aryl groups bonded to an oxygen atom, as in the formula R1-O-R2.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
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