veterinary

[ vet-er-uh-ner-ee, ve-truh- ]

noun,plural vet·er·i·nar·ies.
  1. a veterinarian.

adjective
  1. of or relating to the medical and surgical treatment of animals, especially domesticated animals.

Origin of veterinary

1
1780–90; <Latin veterīnārius, equivalent to veterīn(ae) beasts of burden (noun use of feminine plural of veterīnus pertaining to such beasts, equivalent to veter-, stem of vetus old, i.e., grown, able to take a load + -īnus-ine1) + -ārius-ary

Other words from veterinary

  • non·vet·er·i·nar·y, adjective, noun, plural non·vet·er·i·nar·ies.

Words Nearby veterinary

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use veterinary in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for veterinary

veterinary

/ (ˈvɛtərɪnərɪ, ˈvɛtrɪnrɪ) /


adjective
  1. of or relating to veterinary medicine

Origin of veterinary

1
C18: from Latin veterīnārius concerning draught animals, from veterīnae draught animals; related to vetus mature (hence able to bear a burden)

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