Definitions for placebopləˈsi boʊ for 1; plɑˈtʃeɪ boʊ for 2

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Random House Webster's College Dictionary

pla•ce•bopləˈsi boʊ for 1; plɑˈtʃeɪ boʊ for 2(n.)(pl.)-bos, -boes.

  1. a substance having no pharmacological effect but given to placate a patient who supposes it to be a medicine. a pharmacologically inactive substance or a sham procedure administered as a control in testing the efficacy of a drug or course of action.

    Category: Medicine, Pharmacology

  2. the vespers for the office of the dead.

    Category: Religion

Origin of placebo:

1175–1225; ME < L placēbō I shall be pleasing, acceptable

Princeton's WordNet

  1. placebo(noun)

    an innocuous or inert medication; given as a pacifier or to the control group in experiments on the efficacy of a drug

  2. placebo(noun)

    (Roman Catholic Church) vespers of the office for the dead

Wiktionary

  1. placebo(Noun)

    A dummy medicine containing no active ingredients; an inert treatment.

  2. placebo(Noun)

    Anything of no real benefit which nevertheless makes people feel better.

  3. Origin: From placebo, the first-person singular future active indicative of placeo.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Placebo(noun)

    the first antiphon of the vespers for the dead

  2. Placebo(noun)

    a prescription intended to humor or satisfy


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