bioassay

noun

bio·​as·​say
ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-ˈa-ˌsā,
-a-ˈsā
: determination of the relative strength of a substance (such as a drug) by comparing its effect on a test organism with that of a standard preparation
bioassay transitive verb

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bioassay was in 1911

Dictionary Entries Near bioassay

Cite this Entry

“Bioassay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bioassay. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

bioassay

noun
bio·​as·​say -ˈas-ˌā, -a-ˈsā How to pronounce bioassay (audio)
: determination of the relative strength of a substance (as a drug) by comparing its effect on a test organism with that of a standard preparation
bioassay transitive verb

More from Merriam-Webster on bioassay

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!