preclinical

[ pree-klin-i-kuh l ]

/ priˈklɪn ɪ kəl /

adjective Medicine/Medical.

of or relating to the period prior to the appearance of the symptoms.

Nearby words

precision bombing, precision casting, precisionism, precisive, preclimax, preclinical, preclude, precocial, precocious, precocious puberty, precocity

Origin of preclinical

First recorded in 1930–35; pre- + clinical

Related forms

pre·clin·i·cal·ly, adverb

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

British Dictionary definitions for preclinical

preclinical

/ (priːˈklɪnɪkəl) /

adjective med

of, relating to, or occurring during the early phases of a disease before accurate diagnosis is possible

of, relating to, or designating an early period of scientific study by a medical student before practical experience with patients

Derived Forms

preclinically, adverb

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 preclinical

preclinical

[ prē-klĭn′ĭ-kəl ]

adj.

Of or relating to the period of a disease before the appearance of symptoms.

Of or being a period in medical education before the student is involved with patients and clinical work.