aciclovir
/eɪˈsaɪ.kloʊˌvɪɹ/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: 1.34 in modern English
16
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A cyclic synthetic nucleoside C₈H₁₁N₅O₃ used as an antiviral drug (trademarks Avirax, Zovirax) chiefly in the treatment of chicken pox, shingles, the genital form of herpes simplex, and AIDS.
Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "In cells infected with the herpes virus, acyclovir is converted to a metabolic blocking agent, thereby largely overcoming the old and plaguing problem of toxicity to the host."
- "From the description, Letha felt sure Jane had herpes zoster, or shingles, which often strikes cancer patients or others with depressed immune systems. Jane spent another week in the Bubble, treated with acyclovir."
Etymology
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /eɪˈsaɪ.kloʊˌvɪɹ/
- British English: /eɪˈsaɪ.klə(ʊ)ˌvɪə/
Usage
Inflected Forms
Derived Forms
Phrases
bicyclic heterocycle compound
-ciclovir