vaccine

2 definitions • 2 examples

a substance that is put into the body of a person or animal to protect them from a disease by causing them to produce antibodies (=proteins that fight diseases):

This vaccine protects against some kinds of the bacteria.

The measles vaccine is one of the immunizations that is recommended for all children.

a special substance that you take into your body to prevent a disease, and that often contains a weakened or dead form of the disease-causing organism