prophylactic — [prō΄fə lak′tik] adj. [Gr prophylaktikos < prophylassein, to be on guard < pro , before (see PRO 1) + phylassein, to guard < phylax, guard] preventive or protective; esp., preventing or guarding against disease n. 1. a prophylactic… … English World dictionary
Prophylactic — A preventive measure. The word comes from the Greek for an advance guard, an apt term for a measure taken to fend off a disease or another unwanted consequence. A prophylactic is a medication or a treatment designed and used to prevent a disease… … Medical dictionary
prophylactic — [[t]prɒ̱fɪlæ̱ktɪk[/t]] prophylactics 1) ADJ: usu ADJ n Prophylactic means concerned with preventing disease. [MEDICAL] Vaccination and other prophylactic measures can be carried out. Syn: preventive 2) N COUNT A prophylactic is a substance or… … English dictionary
prophylactic — I. adjective Etymology: Greek prophylaktikos, from prophylassein to be on guard, from pro before + phylassein to guard, from phylak , phylax guard Date: 1574 1. guarding from or preventing the spread or occurrence of disease or infection 2.… … New Collegiate Dictionary
prophylactic — prophylactically, adv. /proh feuh lak tik, prof euh /, adj. 1. defending or protecting from disease or infection, as a drug. 2. preventive or protective. n. 3. Med. a prophylactic medicine or measure. 4. a preventive. 5. a device, usually a… … Universalium
prophylactic — pro•phy•lac•tic [[t]ˌproʊ fəˈlæk tɪk, ˌprɒf ə [/t]] adj. 1) med cvb preventive or protective, esp. from disease or infection 2) med a prophylactic medicine or measure 3) a preventive 4) a device used to prevent conception or venereal infection,… … From formal English to slang
prophylactic — Synonyms and related words: IUD, aegis, antacid, antidote, antiseptic, arm guard, aseptic, backstop, bag, birth control device, boiled, buffer, bulwark, bumper, condom, contraceptive, contraceptive foam, copyright, counteractant, counteractive,… … Moby Thesaurus
birth control device — noun an agent or device intended to prevent conception • Syn: ↑contraceptive, ↑preventive, ↑preventative, ↑contraceptive device, ↑prophylactic device • Derivationally related forms: ↑preventive ( … Useful english dictionary
contraceptive device — noun an agent or device intended to prevent conception (Freq. 1) • Syn: ↑contraceptive, ↑preventive, ↑preventative, ↑prophylactic device, ↑birth control device • Derivationally related forms: ↑preve … Useful english dictionary
intrauterine device — noun contraceptive device consisting of a piece of bent plastic or metal that is inserted through the vagina into the uterus • Syn: ↑IUD • Hypernyms: ↑contraceptive, ↑preventive, ↑preventative, ↑contraceptive device, ↑prophylactic device, ↑ … Useful english dictionary
