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antimicrobic

antimicrobic

6.6
Able to kill germs and stop their growth
  • adjective
  • /ˌæntiˈmaɪkroʊbɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : antimicrobiano
  • Some essential oils have notable antimicrobic properties that can help prevent infections.

Examples

  • The doctor prescribed an antimicrobic ointment to treat the infection.

  • The hospital uses antimicrobic solutions to clean the surgical instruments.

  • Some essential oils have notable antimicrobic properties.

  • This laboratory tests the antimicrobic activity of new pharmaceutical compounds.

  • This cream is antimicrobic.

  • The doctor prescribed an antimicrobic ointment to treat the infection.

  • The hospital uses antimicrobic solutions to ensure the cleanliness of surgical instruments.

Synonyms

antimicrobial
vsantimicrobic
  • Specialized
3 5.1

That kills or stops the growth of germs that cause disease

has identical meaning but differs in word form
germicidal
vsantimicrobic
6.8

Able to kill germs or stop them from growing

focuses specifically on disease causing microorganisms rather than all germs
microbicidal
vsantimicrobic
  • Specialized
7.7

Able to kill germs like bacteria and viruses

also includes inhibiting microorganism growth, not only killing them

How Antimicrobic

sterilant
  • Specialized
1 7.2
microbicidal
  • Specialized
7.7
antimicrobic
  • Specialized
6.6
ineffective
90 3.4

Surface Forms

antimicrobic positive

Morphology

antimicrobic = microbic (semi-transparent) = anti + microbe + ic

The adjective is straightforwardly formed with anti- added to microbic, though the term is somewhat technical.

Etymology

Antimicrobic combines anti- 'against' and microbe 'tiny life', like the 'micro' in microscope, so when something is called antimicrobic it can kill or stop the growth of germs.