antibiotic

antibiotic
n.
a substance, produced by or derived from a microorganism, that destroys or inhibits the growth of other microorganisms. Antibiotics are used to treat infections caused by organisms that are sensitive to them, usually bacteria or fungi. They may alter the normal microbial content of the body (e.g. in the intestine, lungs, bladder) by destroying one or more groups of harmless or beneficial organisms, which may result in infections (such as thrush in women) due to overgrowth of resistant organisms. These side-effects are most likely to occur with broad-spectrum antibiotics (those active against a wide variety of organisms). Resistance may also develop in the microorganisms being treated; for example, through incorrect dosage or overprescription (see also superinfection). Antibiotics should not be used to treat minor infections, which will clear up unaided. Some antibiotics may cause allergic reactions.

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  • antibiotic — ANTIBIÓTIC, Ă, antibiotici, ce, s.n., adj. 1. s.n. Substanţă organică solubilă, produsă de unele microorganisme animale şi vegetale, care are capacitatea de a distruge anumiţi microbi sau de a le opri dezvoltarea, fapt pentru care se utilizează… …   Dicționar Român

  • antibiotic — adj. 1. of or pertaining to an antibiotic. [WordNet 1.5] 2. having antimicrobial activity; capable of killing microbes. [PJC] {antibiotically}, n. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • antibiotic — an ti*bi*ot ic n. 1. A chemical substance derived from a mold or bacterium that kills microorganisms and cures infections. Syn: wonder drug [WordNet 1.5] 2. any chemical substance having therapeutically useful antibacterial or antifungal… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • antibiotic — antibiotic. См. антибиотик. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • antibiotic — index drug Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • antibiotic — (adj.) 1894, destructive to micro organisms, from Fr. antibiotique (c.1889), from anti against (see ANTI (Cf. anti )) + biotique of (microbial) life, from L.L. bioticus of life (see BIOTIC (Cf. biotic)). As a noun, first recorded 1941 in works of …   Etymology dictionary

  • antibiotic — [n] medicine amoxicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin, penicillin, streptomycin, sulfa drug, sulfonamide, tetracycline, wonder drug*; concept 307 …   New thesaurus

  • antibiotic — ► NOUN ▪ a medicine that inhibits the growth of or destroys bacteria. ORIGIN from Greek bi tikos fit for life …   English terms dictionary

  • antibiotic — ☆ antibiotic [an΄tibī ät′ik, an΄tibēät′ik ] adj. 1. of antibiosis 2. destroying bacteria and other microorganisms or inhibiting their growth 3. of antibiotics n. any of certain chemical substances produced by various microorganisms, specif.… …   English World dictionary

  • Antibiotic — In modern usage, an antibiotic is a chemotherapeutic agent with activity against microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi or protozoa. [cite book|author=Davey PG|chapter=Antimicrobial chemotherapy|editor=Ledingham JGG, Warrell DA|title=Concise… …   Wikipedia

  • antibiotic — n. 1) to prescribe an antibiotic 2) to take an antibiotic 3) a broad spectrum antibiotic * * * [ˌæntɪbaɪ ɒtɪk] a broad spectrum antibiotic to prescribe an antibiotic to take an antibiotic …   Combinatory dictionary

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