veterinary
Intermediate (B1)
IPA: /ˈvɛt.ə.nə.ri/
KK: /ˈvɛtərˌnɛri/
adjective
Definition
Related to the medical care and treatment of animals, especially pets and livestock.
Example
She decided to study veterinary medicine to help sick animals.
Conversation
Did you hear about the new veterinary clinic that opened nearby?
Yeah, I saw it while walking my dog yesterday!
I think having a local veterinary service is really important for pet owners.
Absolutely! It's great to have professionals close by when we need them.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
animal
zoological
clinical
Antonyms
human
nonmedical
unrelated
noun
Definition
A person who is trained to take care of animals' health and treat their injuries or illnesses.
Example
The veterinary examined the dog for any signs of illness.
Conversation
I heard you took your dog to the veterinary clinic yesterday.
Yeah, she wasn't feeling well, but the vet was really helpful.
That's good to hear! Was it a reputable veterinary office?
Root Explanation
Veterinary is formed from "veterina" (from Latin "veterinarius", meaning of or pertaining to beasts of burden) and the suffix "-ary" (meaning relating to or connected with). The word "veterinary" refers to anything related to the treatment of animals, particularly domesticated ones.
Memory Tip
Think of 'veterina' which relates to animals, and the '-ary' suffix meaning related to. This helps you remember that 'veterinary' is about caring for animals.
Visually Confused Words
nonveterinary
trinary
ternary