spermicide
(ˈspɜːmɪsaɪd)
[f. spermi- + -cide.]
Any substance which kills spermatozoa, esp. one used as a contraceptive. So spermiˈcidal a. Cf. spermacide, spermaticide, and spermatocide s.v. spermato-.
| 1929 Jrnl. Hygiene XXIX. 323 The spermicidal powers of the various chemical contraceptives sold to the public have never previously been compared, and no one has been in a position to say that one spermicide is preferable to another. 1931 Ibid. XXXI. 190 The words ‘spermicide’ and ‘spermicidal’ are preferred, on grounds of euphony, to ‘spermaticide’ and ‘spermaticidal’. 1936 Discovery Sept. 277/2 Baker has shown that soap solution is more spermicidal than most chemical contraceptives. 1962 A. Huxley Island vi. 84 Before the age of rubber and spermicides. 1977 V. Coleman Paper Doctors ix. 93 There were 15 different types of spermicidal contraceptive waiting to be prescribed. 1977 E. J. Trimmer et al. Visual Dict. Sex (1978) xiv. 135/3 Spermicides..should not be used alone as a contraceptive method. |