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REFERENCE

medicinal

adj. · n.
US //məˈdɪsənəɫ// UK //mˈɛdɪsˌɪnəl// medic·i·nal
  1. 1 healing or therapeutic (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

    having the power to treat an illness or make you feel better.

    possessing therapeutic properties or used in the treatment of disease and relief of pain.

    Example

    Many people believe that ginger has medicinal properties that help with a cold.

    Example

    The indigenous community has long used the bark of this tree for its medicinal qualities, particularly in treating chronic inflammation and digestive issues.
    Pitfall
    He is a medicinal student.
    He is a medical student.

    Use 'medical' for things related to the profession or study of medicine, and 'medicinal' for substances that heal.

  2. 2 a healing plant (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    a plant that people use to make medicine.

    any botanical specimen or plant species cultivated or harvested for its therapeutic chemical constituents.

    Example

    The garden was full of various medicinals used in traditional healing.

    Example

    The researcher spent years documenting the various medicinals found deep within the rainforest, many of which were unknown to Western pharmacology.
Origin

From Latin medicīnālis. By surface analysis, medicine + -al.

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