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| pla·ce·bo [ plə sbō ] (plural pla·ce·bos or pla·ce·boes) |
noun |
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| Definition: |
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1. prescription without physical effect: something prescribed for a patient that contains no medicine, but is given for the positive psychological effect it may have because the patient believes that he or she is receiving treatment
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2. pharmacology inactive substance: a preparation containing no active ingredients, given to a patient participating in a clinical trial in order to assess the performance of a new drug given to other patients in the trial
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3. something done to placate somebody: something of no inherent benefit that is done or said simply to placate or reassure somebody
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4. [ plaa cháybō ] christianity vespers of office for dead: in the Roman Catholic Church, the vespers of the office for the dead
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| [13th century. < Latin, "I shall please" (first word in the Vulgate text of Psalm 114:9) < placere "to please"] |
