'Placebo' definitions:
Definition of 'placebo'
(from WordNet)
noun
An innocuous or inert medication; given as a pacifier or to the control group in experiments on the efficacy of a drug
noun
(Roman Catholic Church) vespers of the office for the dead
Definition of 'Placebo'
From: GCIDE
- Placebo \Pla*ce"bo\, n. [L., I shall please, fut. of placere to please.]
- 1. (R. C. Ch.) The first antiphon of the vespers for the dead. [1913 Webster]
- 2. (Med.) A prescription with no pharmacological activity given to a patient to humor or satisfy the desire for medical treatment. [1913 Webster]
- 3. (Med.) a dose of a compound having no pharmacological activity given to a subject in a medical experiment as part of a control experiment in a test of the effectiveness of another, active pharmacological agent. [PJC]
- To sing placebo, to agree with one in his opinion; to be complaisant to. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]