| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
"A psychiatrist is a man who goes to the Folies Bergère and looks at the audience." [Anglican Bishop Mervyn Stockwood, 1961]
psychiatry psy·chi·a·try (sĭ-kī'ə-trē, sī-)
n.
The branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental and emotional disorders.
| psychiatry (sĭ-kī'ə-trē) Pronunciation Key
The branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental and emotional disorders. |
The medical science that studies and treats mental illness and mental maladjustment. Psychiatrists treat mental disorders; psychologists study mental activities, whether healthy or disordered. In the United States, psychiatrists usually hold the degree of doctor of medicine (M.D.) and may prescribe medication for their patients.