n. [ Cf. F. digitaline. ] (a) (Medicine, Pharmacy) Any one of several extracts of foxglove (Digitalis), as the “French extract, ” the “German extract, ” etc., which differ among themselves in composition and properties. Both Digitalis lanata and Digitalis purpurea have been used to prepare such extracts. (b) (Chem.) the distinctive chemical substance, a steroid glycoside, which is the essential ingredient of the extracts of foxglove. It is a white, crystalline substance (C36H56O14), and is a 3-substituted diglucoside of a steroid. It is a powerful cardiac stimulant and is used as a cardiotonic for treatment of certain heart conditions, such as congestive heart failure. Chemically it is (3β, 5β, 16β)-3-[ 6-Deoxy-4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3-O-methyl-β-D-galactopyranosyl)oxy ]-14, 16-dihyroxy-card-20(22)-enolide. The related compounds digitoxin and digoxin are also extracted from the foxglove. The class of steroid glycosides having cardiotonic properties are refered to as the cardiac glycosides. MI11
Syn. -- digitalinum verum, Diginorgin, Schmiedeberg's digitalin, digitalis, digitalis glycoside. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. [ NL.: cf. F. digitale. So named (according to Linnæus) from its finger-shaped corolla. ] 1. (Bot.) A genus of plants of the family Schrophulariaceae, including the foxglove. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) The dried leaves of the purple foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), formerly used in heart disease, disturbance of the circulation, etc. Its use has been largely replaced by that of the pure active ingredient, digitalin. See digitalin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. same as digitalization.
Syn. -- digitalization. [ WordNet 1.5 ]