Antacid

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ænˈtæsɪd/

Definitions

1. A substance used to neutralize excess gastric acid is effective in relieving symptoms such as heartburn and indigestion
2. An agent that alleviates discomfort by reducing acidity in the stomach can help manage issues like acid reflux and upset stomach
3. A chemical compound that counteracts stomach acidity serves to ease conditions such as heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease

Etymology: Antacid is a plain compound, built from the Greek prefix "anti-", meaning "against" or "opposite to", and "acid". The "anti-" element is itself inherited from ancient Greek "anti", whose sense of opposition runs through many English words, from "antibody" to "antipodes". Its partner, "acid", traces back through Latin "acidus", meaning "sour" or "sharp to the taste", which gave English its word for the sour-tasting substances that chemists later defined so precisely. The result is a word whose meaning is almost literal: something that works against acid. Its structure makes the sense transparent, so a speaker needs no specialist knowledge to guess what it does. That transparency is typical of technical coinages formed from classical roots, which were assembled from familiar parts once scientists needed a name for a new kind of product.

Synonyms: neutralizer, alkali