Definition of "vaccine" in English

adjective

1. Of, pertaining to, caused by, or characteristic of cowpox.

2. Of or pertaining to cowpox as a source of material for vaccination against smallpox; also, of or pertaining to such material used for vaccination.

3. (archaic) Of, pertaining to, or derived from cattle.

noun

1. A substance given to stimulate a body's production of antibodies and provide immunity against a disease without causing the disease itself in the treatment, prepared from the agent that causes the disease (or a derivative of it; or a related, also effective, but safer disease), or a synthetic substitute; also, a dose of such a substance.

2. The process of vaccination; immunization, inoculation.

   • My dog has had two vaccines this year.

3. The material taken from cowpox pustules used for vaccination against smallpox.

4. The disease cowpox, especially as a source of material for vaccination against smallpox.

5. Something defensive or protective in nature, like a vaccine (sense 1.1).

6. A software program which protects computers against, or detects and neutralizes, computer viruses and other types of malware; an antivirus.

verb

1. (transitive, archaic) Synonym of vaccinate (“to treat (a person or an animal) with a vaccine to produce immunity against a disease”).