rabies

[ rey-beez ]
/ ˈreɪ biz /

noun Pathology.

an infectious disease of dogs, cats, and other animals, transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected animal and usually fatal if prophylactic treatment is not administered: caused by an RNA virus of the rhabdovirus group; hydrophobia.

Origin of rabies

1655–65; < Latin rabiēs rage, madness, derivative of rabere to be mad, rave

OTHER WORDS FROM rabies

rab·ic [rab-ik, rey-bik] /ˈræb ɪk, ˈreɪ bɪk/, adjective an·ti·ra·bies, adjective, noun

Words nearby rabies

rabi, rabi i, rabi ii, rabia, rabid, rabies, rabies immune globulin, rabies vaccine, rabies virus, rabin, rabin, yitzhak

Example sentences from the Web for rabies

British Dictionary definitions for rabies

rabies
/ (ˈreɪbiːz) /

noun

pathol an acute infectious viral disease of the nervous system transmitted by the saliva of infected animals, esp dogs. It is characterized by excessive salivation, aversion to water, convulsions, and paralysis Also called: hydrophobia, lyssa

Derived forms of rabies

rabic (ˈræbɪk) or rabietic (ˌreɪbɪˈɛtɪk), adjective

Word Origin for rabies

C17: from Latin: madness, from rabere to rave

Medical definitions for rabies

rabies
[ rā′bēz ]

n.

An infectious, highly fatal viral disease of warm blooded animals that attacks the central nervous system; symptoms include excitement, aggressiveness, and dementia, followed by paralysis and death.

Other words from rabies

ra′bi•et′ic (-ĕt′ĭk) adj.

Scientific definitions for rabies

rabies
[ rā′bēz ]

A usually fatal infectious disease of warm-blooded animals caused by a virus of the genus Lyssavirus that causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. It is transmitted by the bite of an infected animal, such as a dog or bat and can be prevented in humans by a vaccine. See Note at hydrophobia.

Cultural definitions for rabies

rabies
[ (ray-beez) ]

An acute disease, caused by a virus, which attacks the central nervous system and results in paralysis and death if not treated promptly. Rabies is transmitted to humans by the bite of an animal infected with the disease.