preventive (
http://definr.com/preventive)
adj 1: preventing or contributing to the prevention of disease;
"preventive medicine"; "vaccines are prophylactic"; "a
prophylactic drug" [syn:
preventative,
prophylactic]
2: tending to prevent or hinder [syn:
preventative] [ant:
permissive]
3: tending to ward off; "the swastika...a very ancient
prophylactic symbol occurring among all peoples"- Victor
Schultze [syn:
cautionary,
prophylactic]
n 1: remedy that prevents or slows the course of an illness or
disease; "the doctor recommended several preventatives"
[syn:
preventative,
prophylactic]
2: any obstruction that impedes or is burdensome [syn:
hindrance,
hitch,
preventative,
encumbrance,
incumbrance,
interference]
3: an agent or device intended to prevent conception [syn:
contraceptive,
preventative,
contraceptive device, {prophylactic
device},
birth control device]