medicine
[ med-uh-sin or, esp. British, med-suhn ]
/ ˈmɛd ə sɪn or, esp. British, ˈmɛd sən /
noun
any substance or substances used in treating disease or illness; medicament; remedy.
the art or science of restoring or preserving health or due physical condition, as by means of drugs, surgical operations or appliances, or manipulations: often divided into medicine proper, surgery, and obstetrics.
the art or science of treating disease with drugs or curative substances, as distinguished from surgery and obstetrics.
the medical profession.
(among North American Indians) any object or practice regarded as having magical powers.
verb (used with object), med·i·cined, med·i·cin·ing.
to administer medicine to.
Nearby words
Idioms
give someone a dose/taste of his/her own medicine, to repay or punish a person for an injury by use of the offender's own methods.
take one's medicine, to undergo or accept punishment, especially deserved punishment: He took his medicine like a man.
Origin of medicine
SYNONYMS FOR medicine
Related forms
an·ti·med·i·cine, adjectivesu·per·med·i·cine, nounDefinition for medicine (2 of 2)
medical dictionary
noun
a specialized dictionary covering terms used in the health professions by doctors, nurses, and others involved in allied health care services. A dictionary with authoritative spellings and definitions is a particularly crucial resource in medicine, where a misspelling or misunderstanding can have unfortunate consequences for people under care. Print dictionaries in this field may be sorted alphabetically or may be categorized according to medical specializations or by the various systems in the body, as the immune system and the respiratory system. The online Medical Dictionary on Dictionary.com allows alphabetical browsing in the combined electronic versions of more than one authoritative medical reference, insuring access to correct spellings, as well as immediate, direct access to a known search term typed into the search box on the site: A medical dictionary reveals that large numbers of medical terms are formed from the same Latin and Greek parts combined and recombined.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for medicine
British Dictionary definitions for medicine
medicine
/ (ˈmɛdɪsɪn, ˈmɛdsɪn) /
noun
Word Origin for medicine
C13: via Old French from Latin medicīna (ars) (art of) healing, from medicus doctor, from medērī to heal
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 medicine
medicine
[ mĕd′ĭ-sĭn ]
n.
The science of diagnosing, treating, or preventing disease and other damage to the body or mind.
The branch of this science encompassing treatment by drugs, diet, exercise, and other nonsurgical means.
The practice of medicine.
An agent, such as a drug, used to treat disease or injury.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for medicine
medicine
[ mĕd′ĭ-sĭn ]
The scientific study or practice of diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases or disorders of the body or mind of a person or animal.
An agent, such as a drug, used to treat disease or injury.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Idioms and Phrases with medicine
medicine
see dose of one's own medicine; take one's medicine.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.