materia medica

ma·te·ri·a med·i·ca  (m-tîr- md-k)

n.

1. (used with a sing. verb) The scientific study of medicinal drugs and their sources, preparation, and use.

2. (used with a pl. verb) Substances used in the preparation of medicinal drugs.

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[New Latin mteria medica (translation of Greek hul itrik) : Latin mteria, material + Latin medica, feminine of medicus, medical.]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

materia medica - the science or study of drugs: their preparation and properties and uses and effects pharmacological medicine, pharmacology tincture - (pharmacology) a medicine consisting of an extract in an alcohol solution medical specialty, medicine - the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques pharmacokinetics - the study of the action of drugs in the body: method and rate of excretion; duration of effect; etc. posology - the pharmacological determination of appropriate doses of drugs and medicines psychopharmacology - the study of drugs that affect the mind toxicology - the branch of pharmacology that deals with the nature and effects and treatments of poisons formulary, pharmacopeia - (pharmacology) a book containing a compilation of pharmaceutical products with their formulas and methods of preparation; "postexposure prophylaxis is an integral part of the pharmacopeia in preventing severe disease after acute infections" decoction - (pharmacology) the extraction of water-soluble drug substances by boiling percutaneous, transcutaneous, transdermal, transdermic - through the unbroken skin; refers to medications applied directly to the skin (creams or ointments) or in time-release forms (skin patches); "transdermal estrogen"; "percutaneous absorption"