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medicine
[ med-uh-sin or, especially British, med-suhn ]
/ ˈmɛd ə sɪn or, especially British, ˈmɛd sən /
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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.
OTHER WORDS FOR medicine
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Idioms about medicine
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
OTHER WORDS FROM medicine
an·ti·med·i·cine, adjectivesu·per·med·i·cine, nounWords nearby medicine
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use medicine in a sentence
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
Scientific 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.
Other 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.