antibiotic

American  

[an-ti-bahy-ot-ik, -bee-, an-tee-, -tahy-] / ˌæn tɪ baɪˈɒt ɪk, -bi-, ˌæn ti-, -taɪ- /

noun

1. any of a large group of chemical substances, as penicillin or streptomycin, produced by various microorganisms and fungi, having the capacity in dilute solutions to inhibit the growth of or to destroy bacteria and other microorganisms, used chiefly in the treatment of infectious diseases.

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adjective

1. of or involving antibiotics.

antibiotic British  

/ ˌæntɪbaɪˈɒtɪk /

noun

1. any of various chemical substances, such as penicillin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol, and tetracycline, produced by various microorganisms, esp fungi, or made synthetically and capable of destroying or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, esp bacteria

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adjective

1. of or relating to antibiotics

antibiotic Scientific  

/ ăn′tĭ-bī-ŏt′ĭk /

1. A substance, such as penicillin, that is capable of destroying or weakening certain microorganisms, especially bacteria or fungi, that cause infections or infectious diseases. Antibiotics are usually produced by or synthesized from other microorganisms, such as molds. They inhibit pathogens by interfering with essential intracellular processes, including the synthesis of bacterial proteins. Antibiotics do not kill viruses and are not effective in treating viral infections.

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1. Relating to antibiotics.

2. Relating to antibiosis.

antibiotic Cultural  

1. A substance that destroys or inhibits the growth of microorganisms and is therefore used to treat some infections. One of the most familiar antibiotics is penicillin.

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Discover More

Microorganisms that are initially treatable with antibiotics may evolve resistance as the more susceptible members of the population are killed off. (See resistance to antibiotics.)

Other Word Forms

• antibiotically adverb

Etymology

Origin of antibiotic

1855–60, for an earlier sense; anti- + biotic

Example Sentences

Researchers in Australia have developed a promising new strategy to combat deadly bacteria that no longer respond to antibiotics.

From Science Daily

Cholera can kill within hours when not treated, though it can be treated with simple oral rehydration, and antibiotics for more severe cases.

From Barron's

The 41-year-old went on to explain that she had to make changes to her diet - including ditching caffeine - because she "didn't want to take really hardcore antibiotics".

From BBC

Active TB disease is treatable and curable with appropriate antibiotics if it is identified promptly; some cases require hospitalization.

From Los Angeles Times

In their latest experiments, Wang's team found that gut bacteria produced much higher levels of colanic acids when exposed to low doses of the antibiotic cephaloridine.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• penicillin