1. (used with a sing. verb) The scientific study of medicinal drugs and their sources, preparation, and use.
2. (used with a pl. verb) Substances used in the preparation of medicinal drugs.

[New Latin māteria medica (translation of Greek hulē iātrikē) : Latin māteria, material + Latin medica, feminine of medicus, medical.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.