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placebo

nounmasculinetécnico/plɐˈseβu/medium

pla·ce·bo

Definition

A substance or treatment with no active therapeutic effect, given to a patient, usually in a clinical trial, for comparison with an active treatment.
Half of the trial participants received the drug, the other half a placebo.
The placebo effect can cause real improvements in symptoms due to patient expectation.
Common collocations
placebo effectplacebo groupadminister a placebo

Etymology

Do latim 'placebo' (eu agradarei), primeira pessoa do futuro do indicativo de 'placere' (agradar).

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