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View synonyms for

antibiotic

[ an-ti-bahy-ot-ik, -bee-, an-tee-, -tahy- ]

noun

  1. any of a large group of chemical substances, as penicillin or streptomycin, produced by various microorganisms and fungi, having the capacity in dilute solutions to inhibit the growth of or to destroy bacteria and other microorganisms, used chiefly in the treatment of infectious diseases.


adjective

  1. of or involving antibiotics.

antibiotic

/ ˌæԳɪɪˈɒɪ /

noun

  1. any of various chemical substances, such as penicillin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol, and tetracycline, produced by various microorganisms, esp fungi, or made synthetically and capable of destroying or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, esp bacteria
“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

adjective

  1. of or relating to antibiotics
“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

antibiotic

Noun

  1. A substance, such as penicillin, that is capable of destroying or weakening certain microorganisms, especially bacteria or fungi, that cause infections or infectious diseases. Antibiotics are usually produced by or synthesized from other microorganisms, such as molds. They inhibit pathogens by interfering with essential intracellular processes, including the synthesis of bacterial proteins. Antibiotics do not kill viruses and are not effective in treating viral infections.

Adjective

  1. Relating to antibiotics.
  2. Relating to antibiosis.

antibiotic

  1. A substance that destroys or inhibits the growth of microorganisms and is therefore used to treat some infections . One of the most familiar antibiotics is penicillin .
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Notes

Microorganisms that are initially treatable with antibiotics may evolve resistance as the more susceptible members of the population are killed off. ( See resistance to antibiotics .)
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Other Word Forms

  • t··dzi·· adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of antibiotic1

1855–60, for an earlier sense; anti- + biotic
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Steward said his daughter, while surfing nearby, became sick with an infection from a type of bacteria called MRSA, which is resistant to many antibiotics.

From

It also said it was facing shortages in medications for pain management and chronic illnesses, antibiotics and critical surgical materials.

From

Infective endocarditis can be treated with antibiotics if diagnosed early.

From

Over time, the bacterium has developed resistance to most classes of available antibiotics and experts fear it may become untreatable in the future, unless new drugs are found.

From

They were all given precautionary antibiotics as soon as Saffanah was diagnosed.

From

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antibiosisantibiotics, resistance to