1. [n]  an additive that enhances the effectiveness of medical treatment
2. [adj]  (pharmacology) enhancing the action of a medical treatment; "the adjuvant action of certain bacteria"
3. [adj]  relating to something that is added but is not essential; "an ancillary pump"; "an adjuvant discipline to forms of mysticism"; "The mind and emotions are auxilliary to each other"

ADJUVANT is a 8 letter word that starts with A.

1. \Ad"ju*vant\, a. [L. adjuvans, p. pr. of adjuvare to
   aid: cf. F. adjuvant. See {Aid}.]
   Helping; helpful; assisting. [R.] ``Adjuvant causes.''
   --Howell.
   

2. \Ad"ju*vant\, n.
   1. An assistant. [R.] --Yelverton.
   2. (Med.) An ingredient, in a prescription, which aids or
      modifies the action of the principal ingredient.
   

1. In pharmacology, a substance that, when added to a medicine, speeds or improves its action.
2. In immunology, a substance that is added to a vaccine to improve the immune response so that less vaccine is needed to produce more antibodies. Such adjuvants apparently work by speeding the division of lymphocytes and by keeping the antigen in the area where the immune response is taking place. In research with humans, aluminum phosphate and aluminum hydroxide gel are commonly used; in research involving lab animals, Freund's adjuvant is used.