placebopla‧ce‧bo /pləˈsiːbəʊ $ -boʊ/ noun (plural placebos) [countable] 
Word Origin
Word OriginWORD ORIGINplacebo
ExamplesOrigin:
1700-1800 Latin ‘I shall please’, from placere; ➔ PLEASE2EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
word sets- A placebo, superficial and cosy, to lull the world into no longer questioning.
- Again, the placebo could be powerful because it meets some psychological need for attention and treatment.
- Because of ethical considerations no placebo group was established and it is conceded that this inevitably limits the strength of overall conclusions made.
- In each study, the rates in the vitamin A and placebo groups were similar.
- Subjects were randomly assigned to receive a placebo or the cholesterol-lowering drug pravastatin.
- When the tPA test is over, doctors will find out whether they gave her a useless placebo injection.
- Wright and Burton performed a crossover study of evening primrose oil and placebo in 99 adults and children with atopic eczema.
WORD SETS► Drugs/Medicines
Collocationsanabolic steroid, nounanaesthetic, nounantacid, nounantibiotic, nounantidepressant, nounantidote, nounantihistamine, nounanti-inflammatory, adjectiveantitoxin, nounaspirin, nounbalm, nounbalsam, nounbandage, nounbandage, verbBand-Aid, nounbarbiturate, nounbatch, nounBCG, nounbelladonna, nounbeta-blocker, nounbismuth, nounbooster, nouncaffeine, nouncapsule, nouncastor oil, nounchemotherapy, nounclinical, adjectivecodeine, nouncondom, nouncortisone, nouncough mixture, noundepressant, noundisinfect, verbdisinfectant, noundispensary, noundispense, verbdispensing chemist, noundiuretic, noundosage, noundose, noundose, verbdraught, noundrip, noundrug, noundrug, verbdruggist, noundrugstore, nounear drops, nounemetic, nounemollient, adjectiveEpsom salts, nouneucalyptus, nounexpectorant, nounfluoridate, verbfluoride, nounfolic acid, noungripe water, nounhallucinogen, nounhemlock, nounherbal, adjectiveherbal medicine, nounhypnotic, nounimmunize, verbinfusion, nouninhalant, nouninhaler, nouninject, verbinjection, nouninoculate, verbintravenous, adjectiveiodine, nounlaxative, nounlotion, nounlozenge, nounmagnesia, nounmedicament, nounmedicated, adjectivemedication, nounmedicinal, adjectivemedicine, nounmelatonin, nounmethadone, nounmilk of magnesia, nounmorning-after pill, nounmorphia, nounmorphine, nounnarcotic, nounnarcotic, adjectiveneedle, nounniacin, nounnicotine patch, nounobstetrician, nounointment, nounopiate, nounopium, nounoral contraceptive, nounoverdose, nounover-the-counter, adjectivepack, nounpainkiller, nounparacetamol, nounpastille, nounpatch, nounpatent medicine, nounpenicillin, nounpharmaceutical, adjectivepharmaceuticals, nounpharmacist, nounpharmacology, nounpharmacopoeia, nounpharmacy, nounplacebo, nounprescribe, verbprescription, nounpurgative, nounquinine, nounRDA, nounreaction, nounremedy, nounrubbing alcohol, nounsalve, nounsedation, nounsedative, nounsenna, nounserum, nounside effect, nounsleeping pill, nounspecific, nounsteroid, nounstimulant, nounstrychnine, nounsuppository, nounsurgical spirit, nounsyringe, nountablet, nountake, verbThalidomide, nountherapist, nountincture, nountonic, nountranquillizer, nountruth drug, nounvaccinate, verbvaccine, nounValium, nounVaseline, nounwitch-hazel, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN► effect
Phrases· With diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, it is less obvious how the placebo effect works.· However, you then have another problem called the placebo effect.
► group· In each study, the rates in the vitamin A and placebo groups were similar.· There were no improvements in the placebo group despite the fact that the patients were on full orthodox first-line treatment.· Because of ethical considerations no placebo group was established and it is conceded that this inevitably limits the strength of overall conclusions made.· There was no difference between the aspirin and placebo groups in the incidence of cerebral haemorrhage.
VERB► compare· A more recent trial in osteoarthritis showed no effect from Rhus toxicodendron when compared with placebo.
► give· When the tPA test is over, doctors will find out whether they gave her a useless placebo injection.
► receive· The control subjects did not receive either placebo or loperamide oxide tablets but underwent an identical series of measurements on one occasion.· Subjects were randomly assigned to receive a placebo or the cholesterol-lowering drug pravastatin.· Thirty two of the remaining patients were randomised to receive cisapride, and 34 to receive placebo.· The other half will receive an inactive placebo.· A fourth group will receive a placebo and standard medical care.· For example, instead of receiving vitamin C as the experimental group is doing, the control group receives a placebo.
► take· When the code was broken, it was found that he had been taking placebo rather than ursodeoxycholic acid.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► placebo effect
1a harmless substance given to a sick person instead of medicine, without telling them it is not real. Placebos are often used in tests in which some people take real medicine and others take a placebo, so that doctors can compare the results to see if the real medicine works properly.2placebo effect when someone feels better after taking a placebo, even though it has not had any effect on their body- However, you then have another problem called the placebo effect.
- Medicine has generally regarded the placebo effect as a nuisance: it does make research on new medical drugs very difficult.
- With diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, it is less obvious how the placebo effect works.