antimicrobialadj.n.
Med. and Pharmacol.
A. adj.
That kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms.
ΚΠ
1910 Lippincott's New Med. Dict. 67/1 Antimicrobial, antagonistic to microbes.
1949 H. W. Florey et al. Antibiotics I. p. v, In this book plant products with antimicrobial properties have been included.
B. n.
A substance active against microorganisms.
ΚΠ
1957 Dorland's Med. Dict. (ed. 23) Antimicrobial, an agent which destroys microorganisms or suppresses their multiplication or growth.
1966 Antimicrobial Agents & Chemotherapy 6 121 (title) Clinical pharmacology of antimicrobials in premature infants.
1989 New Scientist 27 May 61/2 Cheesemakers already use lysozyme, from the whites of eggs, as an antimicrobial.
1997 Daily Tel. 17 Oct. 22/1 Plants..have developed their own anti-microbials, such as menthol, garlic and eucalyptus.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2013; most recently modified version published online November 2010).
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