Real Dictionary

thalidomide
Thalidomide is used to describe someone whose arms and legs have not developed properly because their mother took thalidomide when she was pregnant.
uncountable noun: Thalidomide is a drug which used to be given to pregnant women, before it was discovered that it resulted in babies being born with arms and legs that had not developed properly.

thalidomide in American English
a crystalline solid, C13H10N2O4, formerly used as a sedative and hypnotic: found to be responsible for severe birth deformities when taken during pregnancy
noun: a crystalline, slightly water-soluble solid, C13H10N2O4, formerly used as a sedative: if taken during pregnancy, it may cause severe abnormalities in the limbs of the fetus

thalidomide in British English
noun: a synthetic drug formerly used as a sedative and hypnotic but withdrawn from the market when found to cause abnormalities in developing fetuses. Formula: C13 H10N2 O4