# chloroform

/ˈkɫɔɹəˌfɔɹm/ (US) · /klˌɔːɹəʊfˈɔːm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/chloroform
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. chemical substance

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a liquid with a sweet smell that makes you unconscious if you breathe it in.

For teachers: a halogenated hydrocarbon (CHCl₃) used as a solvent and formerly as an inhalation anaesthetic.

- The scientist used chloroform as a solvent to dissolve the chemicals in the lab.
- Early surgeons relied on chloroform to induce unconsciousness, though its narrow safety margin eventually led to the adoption of safer alternatives.

### 2. to make unconscious

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

to use chloroform to make a person or animal go to sleep.

For teachers: to administer chloroform to a subject to induce a state of unconsciousness.

- In the old story, the villain tried to chloroform the hero to stop him.
- The researcher had to chloroform the specimen carefully to ensure it remained still during the delicate examination.

Usage: This verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

## Examples

- The doctor used chloroform to help the patient sleep.
- Before the invention of safer anesthetics, surgeons often used chloroform to numb patients during long operations.
- While once a revolutionary tool in the history of medicine, chloroform is now strictly controlled due to its potential to cause cardiac arrest and its high flammability in surgical environments.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.