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vaccine

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vaccine

Main Entry:: vac·cine
Pronunciation:: \vak-ˈsēn, ˈvak-ˌ\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: French vaccin, from vaccine cowpox, from New Latin vaccina (in variolae vaccinae cowpox), from Latin, feminine of vaccinus, adjective, of or from cows, from vacca cow; akin to Sanskrit vaśa cow
Date:: 1813

: a preparation of killed microorganisms, living attenuated organisms, or living fully virulent organisms that is administered to produce or artificially increase immunity to a particular disease

— vaccine adjective

Learn more about "vaccine" and related topics at Britannica.com

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