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Entry 4 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

antibiotic

· an·ti·bi·ot·ic · IPA /ˌæn.taɪ.baɪˈɑ.tɪk/
01 n. A chemical substance derived from a mold or bacterium that kills microorganisms and cures infections.
  1. 1.
    A chemical substance derived from a mold or bacterium that kills microorganisms and cures infections.
  2. 2.
    any chemical substance having therapeutically useful antibacterial or antifungal activity; -- used commonly but loosely for synthetic as well as natural antimicrobial agents.
Syn. wonder drug
02 adj. of or pertaining to an antibiotic.
  1. 1.
    of or pertaining to an antibiotic.
  2. 2.
    having antimicrobial activity; capable of killing microbes.