Diphtheria - Definitions from Dictionary.com

8 results for: Diphtheria

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

diph·the·ri·a

Audio Help [dif-theer-ee-uh, dip-] Pronunciation Key

–noun Pathology.

a febrile, infectious disease caused by the bacillus Corynebacterium diphtheriae, and characterized by the formation of a false membrane in the air passages, esp. the throat.

[Origin: 1850–55; < NL < F diphthérie < Gk diphthér(a) skin, leather + -ia -ia

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Diphtheria

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

diph·the·ri·a Audio Help (dĭf-thîr'ē-ə, dĭp-) Pronunciation Key
n. An acute infectious disease caused by the bacillus Corynebacterium diphtheriae, characterized by the production of a systemic toxin and the formation of a false membrane on the lining of the mucous membrane of the throat and other respiratory passages, causing difficulty in breathing, high fever, and weakness. The toxin is particularly harmful to the tissues of the heart and central nervous system.

[New Latin diphthēria, from French diphthérie, from Greek diphtherā, piece of hide, leather; see letter.]

diph'the·rit'ic (-thə-rĭt'ĭk), diph·ther'ic (-thěr'ĭk), diph·the'ri·al adj.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
diphtheria

coined 1857 in Fr. by physician Pierre Bretonneau from Gk. diphthera "hide, leather," of unknown origin; the disease so called for the tough membrane that forms in the throat. Formerly known in England as the Boulogne sore throat, since it spread from France.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

diphtheria
noun
acute contagious infection caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae; marked by the formation of a false membrane in the throat and other air passages causing difficulty in breathing

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
diphtheria [difˈθiəriə] noun

an infectious disease of the throat

Arabic:	خُناق (غِشائي)
Chinese (Simplified):	白喉（症）
Chinese (Traditional):	白喉(症)
Czech:	záškrt
Danish:	difteritis
Dutch:	difterie
Estonian:	difteeria
Finnish:	kurkkumätä
French:	diphtérie
German:	die Diphtherie
Greek:	διφθερίτιδα
Hungarian:	torokgyík
Icelandic:	barnaveiki
Italian:	difterite
Japanese:	ジフテリア

Korean:	디프테리아
Latvian:	difterija
Lithuanian:	difteritas
Norwegian:	difteri
Polish:	dyfteryt
Portuguese (Brazil):	difteria
Portuguese (Portugal):	difteria
Romanian:	difterie
Russian:	дифтерия
Slovak:	záškrt
Slovenian:	davica
Spanish:	difteria
Swedish:	difteri
Turkish:	difteri, kuşpalazı

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

diphtheria Audio Help (dĭf-thîr'ē-ə, dĭp-) Pronunciation Key
An infectious disease caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae and characterized by fever, swollen glands, and the formation of a membrane in the throat that prevents breathing. Infants are routinely vaccinated against diphtheria, which was once a common cause of death in children.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
diphtheria [(dif-theer-ee-uh, dip-theer-ee-uh)]

An acute disease, and a contagious disease, caused by bacteria that invade mucous membranes in the body, especially those found in the throat. The bacteria produce toxic substances that can spread throughout the body.

Note: In developed countries, diphtheria has been virtually wiped out through an active program of infant immunization.

[Chapter:] Medicine and Health

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Diphtheria

Croup\ (kr??p), n. [Scot. croup, cf. croup, crowp, to croak, to cry or speak with a hoarse voice; cf. also LG. kropp, G. kropf, the crop or craw of a bird, and tumor on the anterior part of the neck, a wen, etc. Cf. Crop.] (Med.) An inflammatory affection of the larynx or trachea, accompanied by a hoarse, ringing cough and stridulous, difficult breathing; esp., such an affection when associated with the development of a false membrane in the air passages (also called membranous croup). See False croup, under False, and Diphtheria.

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