Medicine
ˈmɛdɪsɪn
Definitions
3 meaningsA substance or preparation used for the treatment or prevention of disease.
ˈmɛdɪsɪn
A substance or preparation used in treating disease or pain.
The pharmacist dispensed the prescribed medicine.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're feeling yucky, like a tummy ache or a cold. Medicine is something the doctor gives you to help you feel better! It's like a superpower in a bottle!
👶 For kids: Something that helps you feel better when you're sick.
More Examples
She took her medicine to relieve her headache.
Traditional medicine utilizes herbs and natural remedies.
How It's Used
"The doctor prescribed medicine for her cough."
"Take your medicine after meals."
The science and art of diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease; the body of knowledge relating to the health and care of human and animal bodies.
ˈmɛdɪsɪn
The science or practice of the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.
She dedicated her life to the study of medicine.
💡 Simply: Medicine is also like a huge field of study, where people called doctors and scientists learn how to help us stay healthy. They learn about our bodies and how to fix them when they're not working right.
👶 For kids: The job that doctors do to make people feel better.
More Examples
Advancements in medicine have improved life expectancy.
He is attending medical school.
How It's Used
"He is studying medicine at university."
"She practices medicine as a cardiologist."
A substance, often plant-based or ritualistic, used in traditional or spiritual practices for healing or other magical purposes.
ˈmɛdɪsɪn
A substance believed to have magical or healing properties.
The tribal elder prepared a special medicine to cure the illness.
💡 Simply: Sometimes, people in different cultures believe that certain things, like special plants or rituals, have healing powers. This is also called medicine.
👶 For kids: A special potion or thing that helps you feel better, like in a story.
More Examples
Native American cultures have rich traditions of herbal medicine.
The witch doctor concocted a mysterious medicine.
How It's Used
"Traditional cultures often attribute healing powers to their medicine."
"The shaman used strange medicine during the ritual."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
take one's medicine
To accept the unpleasant consequences of one's actions or the inevitable difficulties of a situation.
"After losing the argument, he had to take his medicine and apologize."
preventative medicine
Medical care focused on preventing disease.
"Preventative medicine, like vaccinations, is crucial for public health."
From Old French *medicine* and directly from Latin *medicina* ('the art of healing; medicine'), from *medicus* ('physician'), ultimately from *mederi* ('to heal').
The word 'medicine' has been used since the late 13th century, evolving from its early associations with healing and remedies.
Memory tip
Think of a bottle with a red cross, the symbol for healing.
Practice
Word Origin
Root: mederi