The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
prophylactic — pro·phy·lac·tic /ˌprō fə lak tik, ˌprä / adj: designed or tending to prevent harm or wrong a prophylactic rule against profiting from inside information Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 … Law dictionary
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 — Proph y*lac tic, n. [Cf. F. prophylactique.] (Med.) A medicine which preserves or defends against disease; a preventive. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
prophylactic — (adj.) 1570s, originally of medicines, that tends to prevent disease, from Gk. prophylaktikos precautionary, from prophylassein keep guard before, ward off, from pro before (see PRO (Cf. pro )) + phylassein, Ionic variant of phylattein to watch… … Etymology dictionary
prophylactic — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ intended to prevent disease. ► NOUN 1) a preventative medicine or course of action. 2) chiefly N. Amer. a condom. ORIGIN Greek prophulaktikos, from phulassein to guard … English terms 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 — 1. adjective prophylactic measures Syn: preventive, preventative, precautionary, protective, inhibitory 2. noun 1) a prophylactic against malaria Syn: preventive measure, precaution, safeguard, safety measure; preventive medicine 2) … Thesaurus of popular words
prophylactic — pro|phy|lac|tic1 [ˌprɔfıˈlæktık US ˌpra: ] adj technical [Date: 1500 1600; : Greek; Origin: prophylaktikos, from prophylassein to guard before , from phylax guard ] intended to prevent disease ▪ prophylactic antibiotics prophylactic 2… … Dictionary of contemporary English
prophylactic — I UK [ˌprɒfəˈlæktɪk] / US [ˌprɑfəˈlæktɪk] adjective medical intended to prevent disease or infection II UK [ˌprɒfəˈlæktɪk] / US [ˌprɑfəˈlæktɪk] noun [countable] Word forms prophylactic : singular prophylactic plural prophylactics 1) medical a… … English dictionary
