medicinal
/me'disinl/
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.
Adjective
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having the properties of medicine
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medicative drugs
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medicinal herbs
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medicinal properties
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