materia medica

[ muh-teer-ee-uh med-i-kuh ]
/ məˈtɪər i ə ˈmɛd ɪ kə /

noun

(used with a plural verb) the remedial substances employed in medicine.
(used with a singular verb) Also called pharmacognosy. the science dealing with the sources, physical characteristics, uses, and doses of drugs.

Origin of materia medica

1690–1700; < Medieval Latin: medical material

Example sentences from the Web for materia medica

  • A copy of materia-medica and a Latin dictionary were the only guides to the beginner of a medical career in those days.

    Watch Yourself Go By |Al. G. Field

British Dictionary definitions for materia medica

materia medica
/ (məˈtɪərɪə ˈmɛdɪkə) /

noun

the branch of medical science concerned with the study of drugs used in the treatment of disease: includes pharmacology, clinical pharmacology, and the history and physical and chemical properties of drugs
the drugs used in the treatment of disease

Word Origin for materia medica

C17: from Medieval Latin: medical matter

Medical definitions for materia medica

materia medica
[ mĕdĭ-kə ]

n.

The branch of medical science that deals with the origin, preparation, dosage, and administration of drugs.