Standard Lemma guide

vasodilator

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A substance that causes dilation of the blood vessels, thereby reducing blood pressure; it may be endogenous (such as a hormone produced by the body) or exogenous (such as a drug or other chemical agent).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biochemistry, biology, chemistry, medicine, microbiology, natural-sciences, organic-chemistry, pharmacology, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: vasodepressor, vasodepressant

Antonyms: vasoconstrictor, vasopressor

2

noun

Meaning 2

a drug that causes dilation of blood vessels

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: vasodilative

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: dilator

Narrower terms: amlodipine besylate, Norvasc, amyl nitrate, butyl nitrite, isobutyl nitrite, diazoxide, Hyperstat, hydralazine, Apresoline, minoxidil, Loniten, Rogaine, Nitrospan, Nitrostat, pentaerythritol, Peritrate, tolazoline, nitroglycerin, nitroglycerine, trinitroglycerin, glyceryl trinitrate

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Italic *wāss Latin vās Ancient Greek -ο- (-o-)der. Latin -o-bor. English -o- English vaso- English dilator English vasodilator From vaso- + dilator.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: vasodilatador — agent that causes dilation of the blood vessels
  • Czech: vazodilatátor — agent that causes dilation of the blood vessels
  • Finnish: vasodilaattori — agent that causes dilation of the blood vessels
  • French: vasodilatateur — agent that causes dilation of the blood vessels
  • Galician: vasodilatador — agent that causes dilation of the blood vessels
  • German: Vasodilatator — agent that causes dilation of the blood vessels
  • Greek: αγγειοδιασταλτικό (angeiodiastaltikó) — agent that causes dilation of the blood vessels
  • Irish: soitheachleathóir — agent that causes dilation of the blood vessels
  • Italian: vasodilatatore — agent that causes dilation of the blood vessels
  • Spanish: vasodilatador — agent that causes dilation of the blood vessels
  • Turkish: vazodilatör — agent that causes dilation of the blood vessels