antibiotic

Definition

Any substance that can destroy or inhibit the growth of bacteria and similar microorganisms, generally transported by the lymphatic system.

Etymology

Borrowed from French antibiotique; by surface analysis, anti- + -biotic.

Example Sentences

• "On a summer visit back to the farm here where I grew up, I think I figured out the central problem with modern industrial agriculture. It’s not just that it produces unhealthy food, mishandles waste and overuses antibiotics in ways that harm us all."
• "We selected colistimethate sodium (CMS) as our antibiotic of choice."