medicine

med·i·cine

noun
\ˈme-də-sən, British usually ˈmed-sən\

Definition of MEDICINE

1

a : a substance or preparation used in treating disease b : something that affects well-being

2

a : the science and art dealing with the maintenance of health and the prevention, alleviation, or cure of disease b : the branch of medicine concerned with the nonsurgical treatment of disease

3

: a substance (as a drug or potion) used to treat something other than disease

4

: an object held in traditional American Indian belief to give control over natural or magical forces; also : magical power or a magical rite

— medicine transitive verb

Examples of MEDICINE

1. He forgot to take his medicine.
2. Did you look in the medicine cabinet for a pain reliever?
3. Their research has led to many important advances in modern medicine.
4. She's interested in a career in medicine.

Origin of MEDICINE

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin medicina, from feminine of medicinus of a physician, from medicus

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to MEDICINE

Synonyms: cure, drug, medicament, medication, medicinal, pharmaceutical, physic, remedy, specific

Related Words: cure-all, nostrum, panacea; botanical, patent medicine, prescription, prescription drug; cordial, potion, tonic; miracle drug, wonder drug; cap, capsule, pill, tablet; injection, shot; embrocation, liniment, lotion, ointment, potion, poultice, salve; syrup (also sirup), tincture; antibiotic, antiseptic, serum; cathartic, purgative

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Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic