noun
camphor
KAM-fuh
noun
1
A white, waxy, strong-smelling crystalline compound used in medicine, insect repellents, and traditional remedies.
"She rubbed camphor ointment on her chest to ease the cough."
How to Use Camphor
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA pungent white waxy substance, often derived from the camphor laurel tree, used in ointments and mothballs.
Common pairings
camphor oil
camphor tree
smell of camphor
Word Forms
camphors plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “camphor”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
She rubbed _____ ointment on her chest to ease the cough.
Etymology
From Old French camphore, via Medieval Latin from Arabic kafur, ultimately traced back to a Malay word, kapur.