poliomyelitis

[ poh-lee-oh-mahy-uh-lahy-tis ]

nounPathology.
  1. an acute viral disease, usually affecting children and young adults, caused by any of three polioviruses, characterized by inflammation of the motor neurons of the brain stem and spinal cord, and resulting in a motor paralysis, followed by muscular atrophy and often permanent deformities.

Origin of poliomyelitis

1
1875–80; <New Latin <Greek polió(s) gray + New Latin myelitismyelitis

Other words from poliomyelitis

  • po·li·o·my·e·lit·ic [poh-lee-oh-mahy-uh-lit-ik], /ˌpoʊ li oʊˌmaɪ əˈlɪt ɪk/, adjective

Words Nearby poliomyelitis

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use poliomyelitis in a sentence

  • poliomyelitis almost did him in, but decided instead to simply paralyze his left arm and leg.

    Dead Cool: Ian Dury | Simon Doonan | April 23, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • The child in the next bed had just become paralyzed by an attack of poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis).

    The Necessity of Atheism | Dr. D.M. Brooks
  • Not once were these investigators again able to transmit the infection of poliomyelitis through Stomoxys.

    Handbook of Medical Entomology | William Albert Riley
  • Soon after this, Kling and Levaditi published their detailed studies on acute anterior poliomyelitis.

    Handbook of Medical Entomology | William Albert Riley
  • In spite of these precautions, all their results were negative, none of the inoculated animals having contracted poliomyelitis.

    Handbook of Medical Entomology | William Albert Riley

British Dictionary definitions for poliomyelitis

poliomyelitis

/ (ˌpəʊlɪəʊˌmaɪəˈlaɪtɪs) /


noun
  1. an acute infectious viral disease, esp affecting children. In its paralytic form (acute anterior poliomyelitis) the brain and spinal cord are involved, causing weakness, paralysis, and wasting of muscle: Often shortened to: polio Also called: infantile paralysis

Origin of poliomyelitis

1
C19: New Latin, from Greek polios grey + muelos marrow

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for poliomyelitis

poliomyelitis

[ pō′lē-ō-mī′ə-lītĭs ]


  1. A highly communicable infectious disease caused by the poliovirus of the genus Enterovirus that causes inflammation of motor neurons of the spinal cord and brainstem, leading to paralysis, muscular atrophy, and often disability and deformity. Childhood vaccinations are given to prevent infection. Also called polio

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for poliomyelitis

poliomyelitis

[ (poh-lee-oh-meye-uh-leye-tis) ]


An acute disease, and an infectious disease, caused by a virus, that brings about inflammation of certain nerve cells in the spinal cord. It can have a wide range of effects, from mild to severe, including paralysis, permanent disability, and death. In the United States, the disease has now largely vanished since the development of a vaccine against it. (See Sabin vaccine and Salk vaccine.)

Notes for poliomyelitis

The history of polio, which went from a major public health problem to a minor one in a short time, is often used as an example of the benefits of medical research.

Notes for poliomyelitis

President Franklin D. Roosevelt suffered from poliomyelitis. During his presidency, he could not walk unaided.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.