Pharmacology

noun a condition or factor that serves as a reason to withhold a certain medical treatment due to the harm it could cause

• The patient's allergy to the medication was a contraindication for prescribing it.
• The doctor couldn't give me that medicine because it would have caused a bad reaction.
• I can't take that stuff, it's like poison to me!
• Her fear of failure was a contraindication to taking risks in her career.

noun a highly addictive drug derived from morphine, used as a recreational drug and in medicine as a painkiller

• The government is implementing stricter regulations to combat the distribution of heroin.
• I heard that guy got caught with a bunch of heroin in his car.
• She's been hooked on that skag for years now.
• His addiction to heroin was like a dark cloud hanging over his life.

noun a simple slow-growing plant that typically forms a low crusty, leaflike, or branching growth on rocks, walls, and trees.

• Lichen is a composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria living among filaments of multiple fungi in a mutualistic relationship.
• I found some lichen growing on the rocks near the stream.
• That lichen-covered tree stump looks pretty cool, huh?
• The relationship between the two companies can be compared to lichen, where both parties benefit from their mutual collaboration.

noun a substance used for medical treatment, especially a medicine or drug

• The doctor prescribed a new medication to treat the patient's condition.
• I have to remember to take my medication every day.
• I hate taking all these meds, but I know they're necessary.
• Music is my medication for the soul.

noun the combination of two words 'pain' and 'killer' used together to refer to a type of medication

• The doctor prescribed a strong pain killer to manage the patient's chronic back pain.
• I always keep a pain killer in my bag just in case I get a headache.
• I need to pop a pain killer before this headache gets any worse.
• Music has always been my pain killer during tough times.

noun an antibiotic drug used to treat various bacterial infections

• Penicillin is a type of antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections.
• My doctor prescribed me some penicillin for my strep throat.
• I need to pick up some penicillin from the pharmacy for this infection.
• His words were like penicillin, healing the wounds of their argument.

noun a slang term for a casino

• The Clean Air Zone (CAZ) policy aims to reduce air pollution in urban areas.
• I heard they're implementing a CAZ in the city to improve air quality.
• The CAZ is all about keeping the air clean for everyone to breathe.
• The CAZ is like a shield protecting us from harmful pollutants in the air.

noun a person or thing that activates something, especially a substance that initiates a reaction or increases the activity of a catalyst

• The activator is essential for starting the chemical reaction.
• Make sure you press the activator button to turn on the machine.
• Just hit the activator and watch the magic happen!
• She is the activator of change in our organization.