pharmacy
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A pharmacy counter.
English
Etymology
From Middle English pharmacy, borrowed from Middle French pharmacie (“the art of creating drugs; a drug, especially a laxative”), from Old French farmacie, from Medieval Latin pharmacia, from Ancient Greek φαρμακεία (pharmakeía, “the use of drugs”), from φάρμακον (phármakon, “a drug, charm, enchantment”), of uncertain but likely Pre-Greek origin. Attested since late 14th century.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈfɑːməsi/
Audio (UK) (file) - (General American) enPR: fär'məsē IPA(key): /ˈfɑɹməsi/
Audio (US) (file)
Noun
pharmacy (countable and uncountable, plural pharmacies)
- (countable) A place where prescription drugs are sold or dispensed.
- (uncountable) The science of medicinal substances, inclusive of pharmaceutics, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacology, phytochemistry, and forensics.
- (uncountable) The role or occupation of a pharmacist.
Usage notes
The American drugstore and British and Commonwealth chemist's are more common when referencing a small shop, especially when it is run as a general store that sells food and other goods as well as medicines. The pharmacies operated within hospitals that dispense medicine without acting as a point of sale are sometimes distinguished as dispensaries.
Synonyms
- (drugstore): drugstore (US); chemist, chemist shop, chemist's, chemist's shop (UK, AU, NZ); dispensary (dated); druggist's, druggist's shop (US dated); apothecary's, apothecary's shop (UK dated); apothecary (historical or archaic)
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
a place where prescription drugs are dispensed
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science of medicinal substances
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occupation of a pharmacist
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See also
Further reading
- “pharmacy”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “pharmacy”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- “pharmacy”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.