materia medica

noun ma·te·ria med·i·ca \mə-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˈme-di-kə\

Definition of MATERIA MEDICA

: substances used in the composition of medical remedies : drugs, medicine

a : a branch of medical science that deals with the sources, nature, properties, and preparation of drugs

b : a treatise on materia medica

New Latin, literally, medical matter

First Known Use: 1663

Medical Dictionary

noun ma·te·ria med·i·ca \mə-ˌtir-ē-ə-ˈmed-i-kə\

: substances used in the composition of medical remedies : drugs, medicine

a : a branch of medical science that deals with the sources, nature, properties, and preparation of drugs b : a treatise on materia medica

Next Word in the Dictionary: matérielPrevious Word in the Dictionary: materials scienceAll Words Near: materia medica

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