medicinal

/me'disinl/

Thân thiện

The herbalist gathers medicinal herbs in the forest.

Definition

Adjective: 1. Having healing properties; relating to or used in medicine: Describes a substance, typically a plant or chemical, that possesses qualities capable of treating, alleviating, or preventing disease or its symptoms. * Example: The bark of the willow tree has medicinal properties, as it contains a compound similar to aspirin. 2. Intended for use as a medicine; curative or therapeutic: Describes the purpose of a substance, indicating it is meant for healing rather than for nutrition or other uses. * Example: She brewed a medicinal tea from the herbs to soothe her sore throat.

Usage

• The adjective medicinal is primarily used to describe the inherent qualities or intended purpose of a substance. It is often followed by nouns like , , , , , , or .
• It can sometimes describe a taste or smell reminiscent of medicine.
  • Example: The cough syrup had a strong, medicinal flavor.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • Many traditional cultures have extensive knowledge of medicinal plants.
  • The spring water was once believed to have medicinal benefits for skin conditions.
  • He took the bitter liquid for its medicinal effect, not for its taste.

Advanced Usage

• "Medicinal chemistry": A scientific field at the intersection of chemistry and pharmacology, concerned with the design, synthesis, and development of pharmaceutical drugs.
  • Example: Her research in medicinal chemistry focuses on developing new antibiotics.
• "Medicinal purposes": A formal phrase used to specify the lawful, therapeutic intent for using a substance, often in legal or regulatory contexts.
  • Example: The substance is strictly controlled and can only be used for medicinal purposes.

Variants and Related Words

• Medicinally (adverb): In a way that relates to or involves medicine; used as a remedy.
  • Example: The plant is used medicinally to reduce fever.
• Medicine (noun): The science and practice of diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease; a substance used to treat disease.
• Therapeutic (adjective): Relating to the healing of disease; having a beneficial effect on health. (Often used interchangeably with , but can apply more broadly to non-substance treatments like massage or counseling).

Synonyms

• Healing: Having the ability to cure or alleviate.
• Curative: Able to cure disease.
• Therapeutic: Administered for treatment of disease or relief of symptoms.
• Remedial: Providing a remedy; curative.
• Medicative (less common): Having medicinal properties.

Antonyms

• Toxic: Poisonous; harmful to the body.
• Harmful: Causing or likely to cause damage.
• Inert: Lacking active properties; having no physiological effect.

Related Phrases / Collocations

• Medicinal herb / plant: A plant valued for its therapeutic properties.
• Medicinal properties / benefits / effects / value: The health-improving qualities of a substance.
• Medicinal use / application: The way in which a substance is employed for healing.
• For medicinal purposes: Indicating the lawful, therapeutic reason for use.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. having the properties of medicine
   • medicative drugs
   • medicinal herbs
   • medicinal properties

Từ đồng nghĩa

• medicative