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medicine

SayMED-i-sin/ˈmɛd.ɪ.sɪn//ˈmɛd.ɪ.s(ɪ)n/

Pluralmedicines

10 meanings of medicine

Practice

  1. 1
    healing drugnouncountable or uncountable
    A pill, liquid, or other substance you take to help you get well or feel better.

    Like a tool that helps your body fix itself when it is sick.

    The doctor gave me medicine for my cough.

    Take this medicine twice a day with food.

    UsageYou take medicine for a cold.

    Similarmedication

  2. 2
    noununcountable
    The study and practice of treating and preventing illness.

    She is studying medicine at the university.

    Advances in medicine have helped people live much longer.

    UsageSay study medicine to become a doctor.

  3. 3
    any curenouncountable
    Anything that helps cure a problem or make it better.

    Laughter can be a good medicine for a bad mood.

    Rest is often the best medicine after a long week.

    UsageSay the best medicine for something.

    Similarremedy, cure, tonic, antidote

    Note
  4. 4
    noununcountable
    In some traditional beliefs, special spiritual power, or an object or ritual thought to have it, used to heal or protect.

    Like saying special words or carrying a lucky charm to make something turn out well.

    He wore a small bag of sacred medicine around his neck for protection.

    He believed strong medicine would protect the village in battle.

    Similarmagic, power

  5. 5
    nounhistoricaluncountable
    The work of doctors who treat illness with drugs, not with surgery.

    In those days, medicine and surgery were taught as separate skills.

    He practiced medicine while his brother trained as a surgeon.

    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of medicine apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes from Latin 'medicīna', meaning the healing art or a remedy, which came from 'medicus', a physician. The 'Indigenous magic' meaning copies an Ojibwe word.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 4 facts