Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
propeller shaft
propelling pencil
propene
propenoic acid
propensity
proper
proper adjective
proper fraction
proper motion
proper noun
properly
property
property center
property tax
prophage
prophase
prophecy
Click to move down the list of words
Also available:

World English Dictionary
Dictionnaire Français

prophylactic

pro·phy·lac·tic [ prfə láktik, pròffə láktik ]


adjective 
Definition:
 
protecting against disease: protecting against infection or disease



noun  (plural pro·phy·lac·tics)
Definition:
 
1. health 
Same as  condom


2. drug that guards against disease: a drug or agent that prevents the development of disease

[Late 16th century. Via French prophylactique< Greek prophulaktikos prophulassein, literally "keep guard in front of" < phulassein "to guard"]

pro·phy·lac·ti·cal·ly adverb
Advertisement

© 2009 Microsoft