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medicine

noun med·i·cine \ˈme-də-sən, British usually ˈmed-sən\

: a substance that is used in treating disease or relieving pain and that is usually in the form of a pill or a liquid

: the science that deals with preventing, curing, and treating diseases

Full Definition of MEDICINE

1
a :  a substance or preparation used in treating disease
b :  something that affects well-being
2
a :  the science and art dealing with the maintenance of health and the prevention, alleviation, or cure of disease
b :  the branch of medicine concerned with the nonsurgical treatment of disease
3
:  a substance (as a drug or potion) used to treat something other than disease
4
:  an object held in traditional American Indian belief to give control over natural or magical forces; also :  magical power or a magical rite
— medicine transitive verb
See medicine defined for English-language learners
See medicine defined for kids
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Origin of MEDICINE

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin medicina, from feminine of medicinus of a physician, from medicus
First Known Use: 13th century

Related to MEDICINE

Synonyms
cure, drug, medicament, medication, medicinal, pharmaceutical, physic, remedy, specific

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic
MEDICINE Defined for Kids

medicine

noun med·i·cine \ˈme-də-sən\

Definition of MEDICINE for Kids

1
:  something (as a pill or liquid) used to prevent, cure, or relieve a disease
2
:  a science dealing with the prevention, cure, or relief of disease
Medical Dictionary

medicine

noun med·i·cine \ˈmed-ə-sən, British usually ˈmed-sən\

Medical Definition of MEDICINE

1
:  a substance or preparation used in treating disease
2
a :  the science and art dealing with the maintenance of health and the prevention, alleviation, or cure of disease b :  the branch of medicine concerned with the nonsurgical treatment of disease

Learn More About MEDICINE

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36 ENTRIES FOUND:
  1. medicine
  2. medicine bag
  3. medicine ball
  4. medicine bundle
  5. medicine dance
  6. medicine dropper
  7. medicine lodge
  8. medicine man
  9. medicine show
  10. medicine song
  11. medicine woman
  12. Medicine Bow
  13. Medicine Bow Mountains
  14. Medicine Hat
  15. addiction medicine
  16. alternative medicine
  17. aviation medicine
  18. behavioral medicine
  19. complementary medicine
  20. defensive medicine
  21. emergency medicine
  22. family medicine
  23. folk medicine
  24. herbal medicine
  25. hyperbaric medicine
  26. internal medicine
  27. nuclear medicine
  28. patent medicine
  29. physical medicine
  30. physical medicine and rehabilitation
Next Word in the Dictionary: medicine ballPrevious Word in the Dictionary: medicinal leechAll Words Near: medicine
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