[dis-uh
n-ter-ee] 
| 1. | Pathology. an infectious disease marked by inflammation and ulceration of the lower part of the bowels, with diarrhea that becomes mucous and hemorrhagic. |
| 2. | diarrhea. |
| dys·en·ter·y (dĭs'ən-těr'ē) n. An inflammatory disorder of the lower intestinal tract, usually caused by a bacterial, parasitic, or protozoan infection and resulting in pain, fever, and severe diarrhea, often accompanied by the passage of blood and mucus. [Middle English dissenterie, from Old French, from Latin dysenteria, from Greek dusenteriā : dus-, dys- + enteron, intestine; see en in Indo-European roots.] dys'en·ter'ic adj. |
A painful disease of the intestines characterized by inflammation and diarrhea. Dysentery may be caused by bacteria or viruses, or may occur as the result of infestation by an amoeba.
Note: Dysentery can be transmitted by contact with water or food that has been contaminated by human waste. Public health and sanitation procedures in developed countries, however, have largely eliminated this means of transmission.
dysentery dys·en·ter·y (dĭs'ən-těr'ē)
n.
An inflammatory disorder of the lower intestinal tract, usually caused by a bacterial, parasitic, or protozoan infection and resulting in pain, fever, and severe diarrhea, often accompanied by the passage of blood and mucus.
| dysentery (dĭs'ən-těr'ē) Pronunciation Key
A gastrointestinal disease characterized by severe, often bloody diarrhea, usually caused by infection with bacteria or parasites. |