methotrexate

See also: méthotrexate

English

Chemical structure of methotrexate

Etymology

Probably from metho- +‎ tre- (“alteration of pteridine”) +‎ (carbo)x(yl)ate.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌmɛθ.əˈtɹɛk.seɪt/, /ˌmiː.θəˈtɹɛk.seɪt/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌmɛθ.əˈtɹɛkˌseɪt/

Noun

methotrexate (countable and uncountable, plural methotrexates) (abbreviated MTX)

1. (pharmacology) An antimetabolite and antifolate drug used in treatment of cancer, autoimmune diseases, and ectopic pregnancies.

   Synonym: amethopterin

   • 2010, Siddhartha Mukherjee, The Emperor of All Maladies, Fourth Estate, published 2011, page 133:

     One group would be treated with intensive methotrexate dosing, while the other group would be treated with milder and less intensive dosing.

Derived terms

• -trexate (“folic acid analog”)

Translations

antimetabolite and antifolate drug

• French: méthotrexate (fr) m
• German: Methotrexat n
• Hungarian: metotrexát (hu)
• Italian: metotrexato m
• Kazakh: метотрексат (metotreksat)
• Russian: please add this translation if you can
• Spanish: metotrexato m

References

• “methotrexate”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “methotrexate”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.