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Meaning of PLACEBO

Pronunciation:  plu'seebow

WordNet Dictionary
 
 Definition: 
  1. [n]  Roman Catholic Church: vespers of the office for the dead
  2. [n]  an innocuous or inert medication; given as a pacifier or to the control group in experiments on the efficacy of a drug
 
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 See Also: active placebo, medicament, medication, medicinal drug, medicine, vesper

 

 

Webster's 1913 Dictionary
 
 Definition: 
\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.
2. (Med.) A prescription intended to humor or satisfy.
{To sing placebo}, to agree with one in his opinion; to be
   complaisant to. --Chaucer.
 
Medical Dictionary
 
 Definition: A medically inert substance given for psychological benefit or as part of a clinical research study.
 
Biology Dictionary
 
 Definition: A substance which has no effects on the test subject, given to members of the control group during experimental trials that test the effects of a drug or other substance. The control group is the group which does not receive the experimental drug or substance and is used to compare what happens to the test group or groups.

This is done because the number of variables between different groups is reduced by going through the same motions of giving a substance to everyone. Also, especially in double-blind experiments, placebos are used to minimize bias in interpreting the experimental results. It has the additional benefit that in trials with humans, some people's illnesses may improve if they simply believe that they've been given medicine, even if they've gotten sugar pills (a common placebo in drug trials) instead. This psychological phenomenon is called a "placebo effect."

 

 

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