C13: from Old French fisique, via Latin, from Greek phusikē, from phusis nature
physic in American English
(ˈfɪzɪk)
noun
1. rare var. of
physics
2. Archaic
the art or science of healing; medical science
3.
a medicine or remedy, esp. a laxative or cathartic
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈphysicked or ˈphysicking
4.
to dose with medicine, esp. with a cathartic
5.
to have a curative effect on; heal
SYNONYMY NOTE: physic is the general word for anything taken to relieve constipation or to effect a bowelmovement; , laxative, aperient usually refer to milder physics of a kind that are ordinarily taken to promote dischargefrom the bowels, such as mineral oil, agar, certain fruit juices, etc.: , purgative, cathartic apply to stronger physics, such as castor oil, Epsom salts, calomel, etc., that aremore drastic in their action
Word origin
ME fisike < OFr fisique < L physica, natural science (in ML, medicine) < Gr physikē < physis, nature < phyein, to produce, become: see be
Examples of 'physic' in a sentence
physic
It means changing a situation in which many schools have difficulties in recruiting, especially in maths and physics.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
B grades in maths, physics and chemistry.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Recruitment problems are particularly acute in maths, physics, computer science and design and technology.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There he distinguished himself in mathematics and physics.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Olive received many accolades for his myriad contributions across the field of theoretical physics.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
His culture extended far beyond mathematics and theoretical physics.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He did give up a promising career in maths and theoretical physics.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It means that he can retire from spelling to focus on pursuing a career path in quantum physics.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He has been engaged with the concept of time for most of his lengthy career in theoretical physics.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
If you do chemistry and one from mathematics and physics you will limit your range of choices much more.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Some of the most complex but decisive concepts in modern physics and mathematics are set out with lucidity and concise elegance.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
He was head of theoretical physics.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It revolutionised sports, physics and medicine.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There is an old adage that the science of politics is chemistry, not physics.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
My perspective is based on ancient Hindu philosophy and quantum physics.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Everything discovered on the Moon could be explained in terms of conventional physics and chemistry.
Dyson, Freeman Infinite in All Directions (1989)
The college reported not finding a sufficient number of British students with strong enough physics and maths.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It's like musical chairs played with quantum physics.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
After the war, the best people in physics and mathematics took part in work on atomic problems.
Aganbegyan, Abel Inside Perestroika: The Future of the Soviet Economy (1990)
Biology and chemistry and physics and mathematics are coming to grips with the problem of the origin of life without any help from cosmology.
Dyson, Freeman Infinite in All Directions (1989)
Physics or chemistry or biology?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
All because of quantum physics.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
No. My first degree was in maths, physics and computer science.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Technology, applied physics, industrial chemistry and so forth were suffered to thrive.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
The second reason is this book's accessible account of the far reaches of science, especially quantum physics and the nature of time.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
I wanted to get involved in real work while applying my favourite subjects - physics and maths - and continuing to learn.