I. |antēˌbī|äd.ik, -ätik, -ēk, -tə̇-, -_bē-, |aan-, |ain-; -ˌtīˌbī- adjective
Etymology: probably from New Latin antibioticus, from anti- (I) + Greek biōtikos of life — more at biotic
1. : tending to prevent, inhibit, or destroy life
2. : of or relating to antibiosis
3. : of, with, or relating to an antibiotic
• an·ti·bi·ot·i·cal·ly -ə̇k(ə)lē, -li adverb
II. noun
( -s )
: a substance produced by a microorganism (as a bacterium or a fungus) and in dilute solution having the capacity to inhibit the growth of or kill another microorganism (as a disease germ)