Longman Dictionary English

Explore Medicine Topic Show all entries from Topic: Medicine
Word family noun medical medication medicine medic adjective medical medicated medicinal adverb medically medicinally
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Related topics: Drugs, medicines, Hospital, Medicine
medicinemedi‧cine /ˈmedsən $ ˈmedəsən/ ●●● S2 W3 noun 1 [countable, uncountable]MD a substance used for treating illness, especially a liquid you drink Medicines should be kept out of the reach of children. Have you been taking your medicine? a medicine bottlemedicine chest/cabinet (=for keeping medicine in) ► Do not say that you ‘drink medicine’. Say that you take medicine.2 [uncountable]MHSE the treatment and study of illnesses and injuries She studied medicine at Johns Hopkins University. the remarkable achievements of modern medicine3 → the best medicine4 → give somebody a dose/taste of their own medicine5 → take your medicine (like a man)COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: the treatment and study of illnesses and injuriesadjectivesmodern medicine (=medicine based on science)Thanks to modern medicine, these babies will survive.conventional/orthodox medicine (=ordinary modern medicine)Some sufferers reject conventional medicine.Western medicine (=conventional medicine as developed in Western countries)the scientific basis of Western medicinetraditional medicine (=medical treatments that were used before modern medicine)The plant was used in traditional medicine for the treatment of stomach problems.alternative/complementary medicine (=medical treatments that are not part of modern medicine)Various types of alternative medicine, particularly acupuncture, can give pain relief.herbal medicine (=medical treatments that use herbs)In ancient China, herbal medicine was often used with acupuncture.holistic medicine (=medical treatment of a whole person, not just a particular illness)One principle of holistic medicine is that each person is unique.folk medicine (=medical treatments that were used by ordinary people, especially in the past)Researchers are looking at plants that are commonly used in folk medicine.Chinese medicine (=medical treatments that are traditional in China, for example using herbs and acupuncture)Acupuncture is part of traditional Chinese medicine.geriatric/veterinary/tropical etc medicine (=medical study relating to specific groups or types of illness)Advances have been made in veterinary medicine, so that our pets are living longer, healthier lives. THESAURUSmedicine noun [countable, uncountable] a substance used for treating illnessCertain medicines should not be taken with alcohol.Has he taken his medicine?pill noun [countable] a small piece of medicine that you swallowShe managed to swallow the pill with a sip of water. The doctor gave him some pills.sleeping pillsdiet pillscontraceptive pillstablet noun [countable] especially British English a small piece of solid medicineShe’s now on four tablets a day.a five-day course of tablets sleeping tabletsanti-malaria tablets antibiotics/aspirin/codeine etcThe doctor put him on a course of antibiotics. Why don’t you take some aspirin?The tablets contain codeine, which is unsuitable for people with asthma.capsule noun [countable] a small tube-shaped container with medicine inside that you swallow wholea bottle of 500 capsules of vitamin CI advised her to take four to six garlic capsules a day for the duration of the treatment. caplet noun [countable] a small smooth pill that is slightly longer than it is wide – used especially on bottles and containersIn small type, the consumer is warned not to take more than one caplet per day.eye/ear drops liquid medicine that you put into your eye or earRemember — if you’re using eye drops for your hay fever, leave your contact lenses out. cream noun [countable, uncountable] especially British English (also lotion especially American English) a thick smooth substance containing medicine, that you put on your skinan antibiotic creamantiseptic creamskin creamdrug noun [countable] a medicine or a substance for making medicinesa drug used to treat malariaThere are a wide range of different drugs on the market.dosage noun [countable usually singular] the amount of medicine that you should take at one timeThe dosage should be reduced to 0.5 mg.It’s important to get the dosage right.medication noun [countable, uncountable] medicine or drugs given to someone who is illHe takes medication for his diabetes.She’s on medication (=taking medication), having suffered from depression for a number of years.
Examples from the Corpus
medicine• Medicines should be kept out of children's reach.• I found a medicine dropper and used that to feed it the milk they left me.• In the United Kingdom it's driven by medicine and there aren't many posts for social scientists.• So why is complementary medicine gaining popularity?• Many of these people have been failed by conventional medicine or have rejected it.• It was well fitted out, with a formidable medicine chest.• Chinese herbal medicine• In the centre, we record part of my daily routine for self-help holistic medicine which includes pectoral muscle exercises.• No medicine, no therapy, can bring her back.• He was taken to the hospital by police, where he was given a great deal of medicine and became unconscious.• Preventative medicine and good health rather than repairs were his philosophy.• Jane is studying medicine.• The discovery of penicillin revolutionized Western medicine.• How are you going to get your medicine?medicine chest/cabinet• It was well fitted out, with a formidable medicine chest.• The home medicine chest Every Koi keeper should have one of these, stored in a cool, dark place.• There was a stainless-steel sink, and a mirrored medicine cabinet.• There are the cleaning products kept under the sink and a well-stocked medicine cabinet to be explored.• Now it seems that Mom has her head in the medicine cabinet and divorce papers in her hand.• Only, there on its side on top of the medicine chest was an unstoppered bottle.• Dana fights his way through the protocol surrounding the medicine chest, has a recipe drawn up, and delivers his balm.• By then, it was all over but the trip to the medicine cabinet to find the nearest aspirin bottle.From Longman Business Dictionarymedicinemedi‧cine /ˈmedsənˈmedəsən/ noun industrial/occupational medicineHUMAN RESOURCES the study of the conditions under which people work and the effects of these conditions on their health and safetyIt is known from occupational medicine that exposure to these chemicals can cause health problems.Origin medicine (1100-1200) Old French Latin medicina, from medicus; → MEDICAL
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