| a plural suffix appearing in loanwords from Greek: proboscides. |

l-stil-bes-trawl, -trol]
| a nonsteroidal synthetic estrogen, C18H20O2, used in medicine chiefly in the treatment of menopausal symptoms and in animal feeds for chemical caponization: formerly used during pregnancy for the prevention of miscarriage but discontinued owing to its association with an increased risk of vaginal and cervical cancers in women having had fetal exposure. Abbreviation: DES |
| DES abbr.
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des
[dis] and dec
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DES (dē'ē-ěs')
n.
Diethylstilbestrol; a synthetic nonsteroidal substance having estrogenic properties and once used to treat menstrual disorders. It is no longer used due to the incidence of certain vaginal cancers in the daughters of women so treated.
diethylstilbestrol di·eth·yl·stil·bes·trol (dī-ěth'əl-stĭl-bēs'trôl, -trōl)
n.
DES.
| DES (dē'ē-ěs') Pronunciation Key
Short for diethylstilbestrol. A synthetic nonsteroidal substance having estrogenic properties and prescribed between 1938 and 1971 to pregnant women with a history of miscarriage and other problems of pregnancy. It is no longer used due to the incidence of certain vaginal cancers and other disorders in the daughters of women so treated. |
| diethylstilbestrol (dī-ěth'əl-stĭl-běs'trôl', -trōl') Pronunciation Key
See DES. |
DES
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DES
nonsteroidal synthethic estrogen used as a drug and formerly used to promote growth of livestock. Unlike natural estrogens, DES remains active following oral administration. It is also administered as vaginal suppositories and by injection. DES breaks down more slowly in the body than do the natural estrogens.
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