atorvastatin

English

Etymology

From ator- +‎ -vastatin (“HMG CoA reductase inhibitor”). The prefix probably from Spanish atorar (“to clog”), wherein the verb suffix -ar was taken off. Thus, the role is "to inhibit the clogging (of cholesterol)".

Noun

atorvastatin (usually uncountable, plural atorvastatins)

1. (pharmacology) A statin used to lower the level of cholesterol in the blood. Trade names include Lipitor among others.