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antimicrobial

[ an-tee-mahy-kroh-bee-uh l, an-tahy‐ ]
/ ˌæn ti maɪˈkroʊ bi əl, ˌæn taɪ‐ /
Medicine/Medical, Pharmacology
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adjective

destructive to or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms.

noun

an antimicrobial agent, as a drug.

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Nearby words

  1. antimension,
  2. antimensium,
  3. antimere,
  4. antimetabole,
  5. antimetabolite,
  6. antimilitant,
  7. antimissile,
  8. antimissile missile,
  9. antimitotic,
  10. antimonarchist

Origin of antimicrobial

First recorded in 1900–05; anti- + microbial
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for antimicrobial

British Dictionary definitions for antimicrobial

antimicrobial

/ (ˌæntɪmaɪˈkrəʊbɪəl) /

adjective

capable of destroying or inhibiting the growth of disease-causing microbes
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medicine definitions for antimicrobial

antimicrobial

[ ăn′tē-mī-krō′bē-əl, ăn′tī- ]

adj.

Tending to destroy microbes, prevent their development, or inhibit their pathogenic action.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.