noun
heparin
HEHP-uh-rihn
noun
1
A naturally occurring substance that prevents blood from clotting, used medically to treat and prevent blood clots.
"The nurse administered heparin to reduce the risk of clotting after surgery."
How to Use Heparin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn anticoagulant drug that stops blood from clotting, often given to prevent dangerous clots.
Common pairings
heparin injection
heparin drip
Word Forms
heparins plural
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The nurse administered _____ to reduce the risk of clotting after surgery.
Etymology
From Latin hepar ("liver") plus the chemical suffix -in, since it was first identified in liver tissue.