cure - Definition | Dictionary definition of cure

Definition of cure

Verbs

provide a cure for, make healthy again

"The treatment cured the boy's acne"

Synonyms:: bring around, heal

Types:: recuperate
restore to good health or strength

Type of:: aid, help
improve the condition of

prepare by drying, salting, or chemical processing in order to preserve

"cure meats"

"cure pickles"

"cure hay"

Types:: dun
cure by salting

Type of:: keep, preserve
prevent (food) from rotting

make (substances) hard and improve their usability

"cure resin"

"cure cement"

"cure soap"

Type of:: harden, indurate
become hard or harder

be or become preserved

"the apricots cure in the sun"

Type of:: change
undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature

Nouns

a medicine or therapy that cures disease or relieve pain

Synonyms:: curative, remedy, therapeutic

Types:: show 32 types...; hide 32 types...; acoustic
a remedy for hearing loss or deafness; antidote, counterpoison
a remedy that stops or controls the effects of a poison; atropine
a poisonous crystalline alkaloid extracted from the nightshade family; used as an antispasmodic and to dilate the eye pupil; also administered in large amounts as an antidote for organophosphate nerve agents or organophosphate insecticides; obidoxime chloride
a chloride used as an antidote for nerve gases such as sarin or VX; emetic, nauseant, vomit, vomitive
a medicine that induces nausea and vomiting; ipecac
a medicinal drug used to evoke vomiting (especially in cases of drug overdose or poisoning); dry mustard, powdered mustard
a substance such that one to three tablespoons dissolved in a glass of warm water is a homemade emetic; lenitive
remedy that eases pain and discomfort; application, lotion
liquid preparation having a soothing or antiseptic or medicinal action when applied to the skin; black lotion, blackwash
a mixture of calomel and limewater that is used on syphilitic sores; calamine lotion
a lotion consisting of a liquid preparation containing calamine; used to treat itching or mild skin irritations; collyrium, eye-lotion, eyewash
lotion consisting of a solution used as a cleanser for the eyes; embrocation, liniment
a medicinal liquid that is rubbed into the skin to relieve muscular stiffness and pain; menthol
a lotion containing menthol which gives it the smell of mint; rubbing alcohol
lotion consisting of a poisonous solution of isopropyl alcohol or denatured ethanol alcohol for external use; witch hazel, wych hazel
lotion consisting of an astringent alcoholic solution containing an extract from the witch hazel plant; magic bullet
a remedy (drug or therapy or preventive) that cures or prevents a disease; balm, ointment, salve, unction, unguent
semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation; arnica
an ointment used in treating bruises; baby oil
an ointment for babies; balsam
an ointment containing a fragrant resin; carron oil
an ointment formerly used to treat burns; cerate
a hard medicated paste made of lard or oil mixed with wax or resin; chrism, chrisom, holy oil, sacramental oil
a consecrated ointment consisting of a mixture of oil and balsam; lip balm
a balm applied to the lips; mentholated salve
a salve containing menthol; mercurial ointment
an ointment containing mercury; zinc ointment
an ointment containing zinc that is used to treat certain skin diseases; alleviant, alleviator, palliative
remedy that alleviates pain without curing; catholicon, cure-all, nostrum, panacea
hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases; once sought by the alchemists; elixir
a substance believed to cure all ills; preventative, preventive, prophylactic
remedy that prevents or slows the course of an illness or disease