chemotherapy

[ kee-moh-ther-uh-pee, kem-oh- ]

/ ˌki moʊˈθɛr ə pi, ˌkɛm oʊ- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR chemotherapy ON THESAURUS.COM

noun Medicine/Medical.

the treatment of disease by means of chemicals that have a specific toxic effect upon the disease-producing microorganisms or that selectively destroy cancerous tissue.

Words related to chemotherapy

bomber, executioner, savage, cancer, radiation, vandal, firebrand, poison, iconoclast, assassin, despoiler, pillager, annihilator, eradicator, wrecker, exterminator, ransacker

Words nearby chemotherapy

chemosynthetic bacteria, chemotactic, chemotaxis, chemotaxonomy, chemotherapeutics, chemotherapy, chemotroph, chemotropism, chempaduk, chemulpo, chemurgy

Compare pharmacotherapy.

Origin of chemotherapy

First recorded in 1905–10; chemo- + therapy

OTHER WORDS FROM chemotherapy

che·mo·ther·a·pist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for chemotherapy

With chemotherapy, her doctors give her at least an 80 percent chance of survival.
Should Teens Have The Right To Die?|Brandy Zadrozny|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Men and women who become infertile as a result of chemotherapy could also regain their reproductive capabilities.
Men Will Someday Have Kids Without Women|Samantha Allen|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Carol was strong-willed and energetic—she continued teaching and running marathons well into her chemotherapy.
The Nurse Coaching People Through Death by Starvation|Nick Tabor|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Others, she says, wait until their 84th round of chemotherapy.
The Nurse Coaching People Through Death by Starvation|Nick Tabor|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST

He was recovering from a particularly difficult round of chemotherapy.
Beating Cancer & Dodging Israel's Bombs|Itay Hod|September 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Physical conditioning, systems of exercise, experimentation in chemotherapy are still being undertaken.
This Crowded Earth|Robert Bloch

British Dictionary definitions for chemotherapy

chemotherapy

/ (ˌkiːməʊˈθɛrəpɪ, kiːmə-) /

noun

treatment of disease, esp cancer, by means of chemical agentsCompare radiotherapy

Derived forms of chemotherapy

chemotherapist, noun

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 chemotherapy

chemotherapy

[ kē′mō-thĕr′ə-pē ]

n.

The treatment of cancer using specific chemical agents or drugs that are selectively destructive to malignant cells and tissues.

The treatment of disease using chemical agents or drugs that are selectively toxic to the causative agent of the disease, such as a virus or other microorganism.

Other words from chemotherapy

che′mo•ther′a•peu′tic (-pyōō′tĭk) adj.che′mo•ther′a•pist n.

Science definitions for chemotherapy

chemotherapy

[ kē′mō-thĕr′ə-pē ]

The treatment of disease, especially cancer, using drugs that are destructive to malignant cells and tissues.

The treatment of disease using chemical agents or drugs that are selectively toxic to the causative agent of the disease, such as a microorganism.

Culture definitions for chemotherapy

chemotherapy

[ (kee-moh-ther-uh-pee) ]

The treatment of disease with chemicals. The term chemotherapy often refers to a kind of treatment for cancer in which chemicals are administered to destroy cancer cells.

notes for chemotherapy

There are often side effects to chemotherapy, a common one being the temporary loss of hair.