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antiserum

American  
[an-tuh-seer-uhm] / ˈæn təˌsɪər əm /

noun

plural

antiserums, antisera

  1. a serum containing antibodies, as antitoxins or agglutinins, obtained by inoculation of animals and used for injection into other animals to provide immunity to a specific disease.

antiserum British  
/ ˌæntɪˈsɪərəm /

noun

  1. blood serum containing antibodies against a specific antigen, used to treat or provide immunity to a disease

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
antiserum Scientific  
/ ăn′tĭ-sîr′əm /

plural

antiserums

  1. Human or animal serum containing one or more antibodies that are specific for one or more antigens and are administered to confer immunity. The antibodies in an antiserum result from previous immunization or exposure to an agent of disease.

  2. See also acquired immunity

Etymology

Origin of antiserum

First recorded in 1900–05; anti- + serum

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In the late 1800s, an effective treatment with an antiserum was developed.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 13, 2024

Food and Drug Administration to replace an aging stockpile of diphtheria antiserum from horses kept at the U.S.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 17, 2020

There are hardly any producers of antiserum left, however.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 17, 2020

"The other possibility I'm trying to work on is to develop an antiserum from horses – the way we do with rabies – for women we know are pregnant."

From US News • Jan. 25, 2016

When a portion of an antiserum is added to an emulsion of the corresponding organism, the organisms, if they are motile, cease to move, and in any case become gathered together into clumps.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 1 "Bisharin" to "Bohea" by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.