prophylaxes

Variant of prophylaxis

prophylaxis definition

pro·phy·laxis (prō′fə lak′sis)

noun pl. prophylaxes -·lax′es′ (-sēz′)

  1. the prevention of or protection from disease; prophylactic treatment
  2. Dentistry a mechanical cleaning of teeth to remove plaque and tartar

Etymology: ModL < prophylactic, based on Gr phylaxis, a watching < phylax, guard

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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