ep·i·dem·ic
Audio Help [ep-i-dem-ik] Pronunciation Key
Audio Help [ep-i-dem-ik] Pronunciation Key –adjective
–noun
| 1. | Also, ep·i·dem·i·cal. (of a disease) affecting many persons at the same time, and spreading from person to person in a locality where the disease is not permanently prevalent. |
| 2. | extremely prevalent; widespread. |
| 3. | a temporary prevalence of a disease. |
| 4. | a rapid spread or increase in the occurrence of something: an epidemic of riots. |
| Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. |
epidemic
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| © 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |
| ep·i·dem·ic
Audio Help (ěp'ĭ-děm'ĭk) Pronunciation Key
adj.
n.
[French épidémique, from épidémie, an epidemic, from Old French espydymie, from Medieval Latin epidēmia, from Greek epidēmiā, prevalence of an epidemic disease, from epidēmos, prevalent : epi-, epi- + dēmos, people; see dā- in Indo-European roots.] ep'i·dem'i·cal·ly adv. |
| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
epidemic
1603, from Fr. épidémique, from épidemié "an epidemic disease," from M.L. epidemia, from Gk. epidemia "prevalence of an epidemic disease" (especially the plague), from epi- "among, upon" + demos "people, district" (see demotic). Epidemiology "the study of epidemics" is from 1873.
| Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper |
| epidemic | |
adjective | |
| 1. | (especially of medicine) of disease or anything resembling a disease; attacking or affecting many individuals in a community or a population simultaneously; "an epidemic outbreak of influenza" [ant: endemic, ecdemic] |
noun | |
| 1. | a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease; many people are infected at the same time |
| WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University. |
epidemic [epiˈdemik] noun
an outbreak of a disease that spreads rapidly and attacks very many people
Example: an epidemic of measles/influenza
Example: an epidemic of measles/influenza
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| Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary, © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd. |
| epidemic
Audio Help (ěp'ĭ-děm'ĭk) Pronunciation Key
An outbreak of a disease or illness that spreads rapidly among individuals in an area or population at the same time. See also endemic, pandemic. |
| The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
epidemic
A contagious disease that spreads rapidly and widely among the population in an area. Immunization and quarantine are two of the methods used to control an epidemic.
[Chapter:] Medicine and Health
| The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
Epidemic
Ep`i*dem"ic\, Epidemical \Ep`i*dem"ic*al\, a. [L. epidemus, Gr. ?, ?, among the people, epidemic; ? in + ? people: cf. F. ['e]pid['e]mique. Cf. Demagogue.]1. (Med.) Common to, or affecting at the same time, a large number in a community; -- applied to a disease which, spreading widely, attacks many persons at the same time; as, an epidemic disease; an epidemic catarrh, fever, etc. See Endemic. 2. Spreading widely, or generally prevailing; affecting great numbers, as an epidemic does; as, epidemic rage; an epidemic evil. It was the epidemical sin of the nation. --Bp. Burnet.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Epidemic
Ep`i*dem"ic\, n. [Cf. Epidemy.]1. (Med.) An epidemic disease. 2. Anything which takes possession of the minds of people as an epidemic does of their bodies; as, an epidemic of terror.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
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