Medawar, Sir Peter
872
Med·a·war, Sir Peter /'medəwə/ (1915-87) a British ZOOLOGIST (=a scientist who studies animals and their behaviour), known for his discoveries about the IMMUNE SYSTEM (=the system that your body uses to protect itself from disease). He won a Nobel prize for medicine in 1960.
med·dle /'medl/ v [I (in, with)] to take too much interest in, or take action about other people's private affairs; INTERFERE
—dler n
med·dle·some /'medlsəm/ adj (of people or behaviour) meddling: a meddlesome old man —ness n [U]
Me·dea /mə'drə/ in ancient Greek stories, a princess who could do magic, and who helped JASON to get the GOLDEN FLEECE. She later killed the children she and Jason had together when he decided to marry another woman.
Mé·de·cins sans Fron·tières /ˌmedəsæn sɑ̃ frɔnˈtjɛə ǁ-frɒn-/ abbrev. MSF an international organization, similar to the RED CROSS, that provides medical help to people who are suffering as a result of war or natural DISASTERS. Its French name means 'Doctors without Borders'.
Me·del·lin /ˌmedelˈiːnl,ˌmedəlˈɪɪn/ a city in the northwest of Colombia, which is an important industrial centre, but in the 1980s became known especially as the centre of the illegal trade in the drug COCAINE
me·di·a /ˈmiːdiə/ also mass media fml — n [(the)+sing./pl. v] the newspapers, television, and radio: The media have/has a lot of power today. | government control over the media → see also MEDIUM2
'media ˌcoverage n [U] the amount of time and space given to a subject or an event in the newspapers and on radio and television: The Gulf War got massive media coverage.
med·i·ae·val ˌmediˈiːvəl ǁ ˌmiː-/ adj MEDIEVAL
'media e·vent n an event that is not very important but is widely reported by the media, especially one that is deliberately made to happen only so that the media coverage makes someone or something involved in it seem important or interesting
ˌmedia ˈhype n [U] infml, derog a lot of attention given to a subject or an event by the newspapers or television, making the subject seem much more important than it really is: People only went to see that film because of the media hype.
me·di·al /ˈmiːdiəl/ adj [A no comp.] tech in the middle position: a medial consonant (=between two vowels) —ly adv
me·di·an1 /ˈmiːdiən/ n tech 1 a line passing from a point of a TRIANGLE to the centre of the opposite side 2 also median strip AmE for a CENTRAL RESERVATION
median2 adj [A no comp.] tech in or passing through the middle
me·di·ate /ˈmiːdieɪt/ v 1 [I [between, in]] to act as a peace-maker between opposing sides: The government mediated between the workers and the employers. 2 [T] to produce by mediating: The army leaders have mediated a cease-fire/a settlement. —ator n —ation /ˌmiːdiˈeɪʃən/ n [U]
med·ic /'medɪk/ also medico n infml 1 a medical doctor or student 2 AmE a military person trained in medical treatment, especially one working in time of war
Med·ic·aid /'medɪkeɪd/ (in the US) a system by which the government helps to pay the medical costs of people on low incomes. It is often criticized by its users and others and is generally thought to be not as good as private medical care.
→ compare MEDICARE
med·i·cal1 /'medɪkəl/ adj 1 of medicine and treating the sick: a medical student | a medical examination (=an examination of the body by a doctor) 2 of the treatment of disease by medicine rather than by operation: the hospital's medical wards → compare MEDICINAL, SURGICAL —ly /kli/ adv: The soldier was pronounced medically fit (for active duty).
medical2 also physical especially AmE — n a medical examination of the body: I have to have a medical before going abroad. | his army medical
'medical ˌcard n (in Britain) an official card showing a person's name and address, their NHS number, and the name and address of their doctor
'medical ˌofficer n a doctor working in the armed forces
ˌmedical practitioner n BrE fml a doctor
ˌMedical Reˈsearch ˌCouncil, the a British organization
that gives government money to hospitals, universities, and other institutions so that they can do medical RESEARCH
'medical school also med school AmE infml — n a school where people study to become doctors
me·dic·a·ment /mɪˈdɪkəmənt, ˈmedɪ-/ n fml or tech a substance used on or in the body to treat a disease; medicine
Med·i·care /'medɪkeə/ (in the US and Canada) a system of medical care provided by the government, especially for old people → compare MEDICAID
med·i·cat·ed /'medɪkeɪtd/ adj including or mixed with a substance for diseased conditions: medicated shampoo
med·i·ca·tion /ˌmedɪˈkeɪʃən/ n [C;U] especially AmE a medical substance, especially a drug; medicine: She's on medication for her heart. | I've tried several different medications and none of them work.
Med·i·ci, the /'medɪtʃiː/ a rich and powerful Italian family of bankers who ruled FLORENCE from the 15th to the 18th centuries, and spent much of their money on art and on providing financial support to artists
me·di·ci·nal /mɪˈdɪsənl/ adj 1 used as medicine: medicinal alcohol (=not for drinking) 2 used to encourage good health. Some people say that when they drink strong alcoholic drink, e.g. WHISKY, it is for medicinal purposes, but usually they are saying it humorously: I always keep brandy in the house, but purely for medicinal purposes. → compare MEDICAL —ly adv
med·i·cine /'medsən||'medɪsən/ n 1 [C;U] a substance used for treating illness, especially a liquid to be drunk: a bottle/a dose of medicine | Have you taken your medicine? | the medicine cupboard | (fig.) The best medicine for you right now would be a good holiday. 2 [U] the science of treating and understanding illness: preventative medicine | a doctor of medicine → see Cultural Notes at HEALTH CARE, ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 3 give someone a taste/dose of their own medicine infml to treat someone as (badly as) they have treated others, as a punishment 4 take one's medicine to accept punishment or unpleasantness
'medicine ˌman, ˈmedicine ˌwoman fem. — n a person especially among Native Americans who is recognized by the tribe as having knowledge and experience of medicinal plants and practices and as being able to help or cure people, often with the help of the spirit world → compare SHAMAN, WITCHDOCTOR
med·i·co /'medɪkəʊ/ n pl. -cos infml a MEDIC
med·i·e·val, mediaeval /ˌmediˈiːvəl ǁ ˌmiː-/ adj 1 of the period in history between about AD 1100 and 1400 (the Middle Ages) 2 infml derog very old or old-fashioned: The plumbing in their house is positively medieval!
Me·di·na /meˈdiːnə, mə-/ a city in Saudi Arabia where MUHAMMAD is buried. It is the most holy place in Islam except for MECCA, and people who are not Muslims are not allowed to go there.
me·di·o·cre /ˌmiːdiˈəʊkə/ adj neither very good nor very bad, but usually not good enough: a mediocre story
me·di·oc·ri·ty /ˌmiːdiˈɒkrɪtlɪ-ˈɑːtɪk-/ n 1 [U] the state of being mediocre 2 [C] a person who is not very good at anything
med·i·tate /'medɪteɪt/ v 1 [I (on, upon);T] to think seriously or deeply (about): He meditated (on the matter) for two days before giving his answer. | [+v-ing] I hear you're meditating giving up your job. (=forming a possible intention to do so) 2 [I] to fix the attention on one idea or activity, having cleared the mind of thoughts, especially for religious reasons and/or to gain a calm peaceful mind
med·i·ta·tion /ˌmedɪˈteɪʃən/ n 1 [U] also meditations pl. — the act or time of meditating: He interrupted my meditations. 2 [U] the practice of training the mind and body to become less active for certain regular periods, especially so as to be able to control it better and use it more effectively 3 [C (on, upon) often pl.] a piece of deep thought on a subject, expressed in speech or writing
med·i·ta·tive /'medɪtətɪv||-'teɪtɪv/ adj thoughtful; showing deep thought —ly adv
Med·it·er·ra·ne·an Sea, the /ˌmedɪtəˈreɪnɪən ˈsiː/ also the Mediterranean a sea surrounded by the countries of South Europe, North Africa, and southwest Asia. The weather there is hot in the summer, and countries on the