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vaccine definition

vac·cine (vak sēn′, vak′sēn)

noun

  1. lymph, or a preparation of this, from a cowpox vesicle, containing the causative virus and used in vaccination against cowpox or smallpox
  2. any preparation of killed microorganisms, living weakened organisms, etc. introduced into the body to produce immunity to a specific disease by causing the formation of antibodies

Etymology: L vaccinus, from cows < vacca, cow; akin ? to Sans vaś, rogue cow

adjective

Rare of cowpox or vaccination

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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