ANTIBIOTIC Meaning and
Definition
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Antibiotic is a noun that refers to a type of powerful medicine used to treat bacterial infections. It is derived from the combination of the Greek words "anti-" meaning against, and "bios" meaning life. Antibiotics are designed to inhibit the growth or destroy bacteria, thus helping the body's natural defense system fight against infection.
These medications work by either killing bacteria outright (bactericidal) or by preventing their further reproduction (bacteriostatic). Antibiotics are typically produced by living organisms or artificially synthesized in laboratories, and they can be administered orally, topically, or intravenously depending on the severity of the infection.
Antibiotics have revolutionized modern medicine, significantly reducing mortality rates associated with bacterial infections. They have been used to treat a wide array of conditions, including respiratory infections, skin infections, urinary tract infections, and some sexually transmitted diseases. However, it is important to note that antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections such as the common cold or flu, as they only target bacteria.
Although antibiotics are highly beneficial, misuse or overuse can lead to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This occurs when bacteria develop the ability to survive the effects of antibiotics due to genetic mutations or acquiring resistance genes from other bacteria. Therefore, it is crucial to use antibiotics responsibly and as prescribed by a healthcare professional to preserve their effectiveness and prevent the further spread of antibiotic resistance.
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1. Relating to antibiosis. 2. Prejudicial to life.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Top Common Misspellings for ANTIBIOTIC *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for ANTIBIOTIC
Etymology of ANTIBIOTIC
The word "antibiotic" is derived from two Greek roots: "anti-" meaning "against" or "opposite", and "bios" meaning "life". The combination of these roots gives the term its literal meaning of "against life". The word was coined by the French microbiologist René Dubos in 1942 as a way to describe substances produced by microorganisms that are capable of inhibiting the growth or killing other microorganisms. Today, "antibiotic" is a widely used term to refer to a class of drugs used to treat bacterial infections.
Similar spelling words for ANTIBIOTIC
- antipodal,
- antipathetic,
- antipodes,
- antipodean,
- antiparticle,
- antibiosis,
- antiprotozoal,
- antipollution,
- antiproton,
- antipatico,
- antipoetic,
- antiblack,
- endobiotic,
- Entoptic,
- Thesaurus:antibiotic,
- antibiotic-resistant,
- antivert,
- Antipode,
- antibiotic-free,
- antipruritic,
- antipyretic.
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