Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
disease
7 dictionary results for: Disease
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
dis·ease       [di-zeez] Pronunciation Key noun, verb, -eased, -eas·ing.
–noun
1.a disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection, poisons, nutritional deficiency or imbalance, toxicity, or unfavorable environmental factors; illness; sickness; ailment.
2.any abnormal condition in a plant that interferes with its vital physiological processes, caused by pathogenic microorganisms, parasites, unfavorable environmental, genetic, or nutritional factors, etc.
3.any harmful, depraved, or morbid condition, as of the mind or society: His fascination with executions is a disease.
4.decomposition of a material under special circumstances: tin disease.
–verb (used with object)
5.to affect with disease; make ill.

[Origin: 1300–50; ME disese < AF dese(a)se, disaise; see dis-1, ease]

dis·eas·ed·ly, adverb
dis·eas·ed·ness, noun

1. morbidity, complaint, derangement, distemper, indisposition, infirmity, disorder, malady.
1. health. 5. cure.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
dis·ease       (dĭ-zēz')  Pronunciation Key 
n.  
  1. A pathological condition of a part, organ, or system of an organism resulting from various causes, such as infection, genetic defect, or environmental stress, and characterized by an identifiable group of signs or symptoms.
  2. A condition or tendency, as of society, regarded as abnormal and harmful.
  3. Obsolete Lack of ease; trouble.


[Middle English disese, from Old French : des-, dis- + aise, ease; see ease.]

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
disease 
c.1330, "discomfort," from O.Fr. desaise, from des- "without, away" + aise "ease" (see ease). Sense of "sickness, illness" first recorded 1393; the word still sometimes was used in its lit. sense early 17c.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
disease

noun
an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning 

American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

disease dis·ease (dĭ-zēz')
n.
A pathological condition of a body part, an organ, or a system resulting from various causes, such as infection, genetic defect, or environmental stress, and characterized by an identifiable group of signs or symptoms.

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

Disease

Dis*ease"\, n. [OE. disese, OF. desaise; des- (L. dis-) + aise ease. See Ease.]

1. Lack of ease; uneasiness; trouble; vexation; disquiet. [Obs.]

So all that night they passed in great disease. --Spenser.

To shield thee from diseases of the world. --Shak.

2. An alteration in the state of the body or of some of its organs, interrupting or disturbing the performance of the vital functions, and causing or threatening pain and weakness; malady; affection; illness; sickness; disorder; -- applied figuratively to the mind, to the moral character and habits, to institutions, the state, etc.

Diseases desperate grown, By desperate appliances are relieved. --Shak.

The instability, injustice, and confusion introduced into the public counsels have, in truth, been the mortal diseases under which popular governments have every where perished. --Madison.

Disease germ. See under Germ.

Syn: Distemper; ailing; ailment; malady; disorder; sickness; illness; complaint; indisposition; affection. -- Disease, Disorder, Distemper, Malady, Affection. Disease is the leading medical term. Disorder mean? much the same, with perhaps some slight reference to an irregularity of the system. Distemper is now used by physicians only of the diseases of animals. Malady is not a medical term, and is less used than formerly in literature. Affection has special reference to the part, organ, or function disturbed; as, his disease is an affection of the lungs. A disease is usually deep-seated and permanent, or at least prolonged; a disorder is often slight, partial, and temporary; malady has less of a technical sense than the other terms, and refers more especially to the suffering endured. In a figurative sense we speak of a disease mind, of disordered faculties, and of mental maladies.

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

Disease

Dis*ease"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diseased; p. pr. & vb. n. Diseasing.]

1. To deprive of ease; to disquiet; to trouble; to distress. [Obs.]

His double burden did him sore disease. --Spenser.

2. To derange the vital functions of; to afflict with disease or sickness; to disorder; -- used almost exclusively in the participle diseased.

He was diseased in body and mind. --Macaulay.

Share This:Share This: digg.comShare This: ma.gnolia.comShare This: www.stumbleupon.comShare This: del.icio.usShare This: FacebookShare This: favorites.live.comShare This: www.technorati.comShare This: furl.netShare This: myweb2.search.yahoo.comShare This: www.google.com