zi·do·vu·dine / zīˈdävyəˌdēn; zə-; -ˈdō-/ • n. Med. an antiviral drug, C₁₀H₁₃N₅O₄, used in the treatment of AIDS. It slows the growth of HIV infection in the body, but is not curative.

zidovudine (AZT) (zy-dov-yoo-deen) n. an antiviral drug used in the treatment of AIDS and HIV infection. The drug slows the growth of HIV infection in the body, but is not curative. It is administered by mouth or intravenously; the most common side-effects are nausea, headache, and insomnia, and it may damage the blood-forming tissues of the bone marrow. Trade name: Retrovir.