hydrophobia
[ hahy-druh-foh-bee-uh ]
/ ˌhaɪ drəˈfoʊ bi ə /
noun
an abnormal or unnatural dread of water.
Words nearby hydrophobia
hydrophane,
hydrophilia,
hydrophilic,
hydrophilous,
hydrophobe,
hydrophobia,
hydrophobic,
hydrophone,
hydrophyllaceous,
hydrophyte,
hydropic
Example sentences from the Web for hydrophobia
British Dictionary definitions for hydrophobia
hydrophobia
/ (ˌhaɪdrəˈfəʊbɪə) /
noun
another name for rabies
a fear of drinking fluids, esp that of a person with rabies, because of painful spasms when trying to swallow
Compare aquaphobia
Medical definitions for hydrophobia
hydrophobia
[ hī′drə-fō′bē-ə ]
n.
An abnormal fear of water.
Rabies.
Scientific definitions for hydrophobia
hydrophobia
[ hī′drə-fō′bē-ə ]
Abnormal fear of water.
Rabies.
Word History
Hydrophobia is an older term for the disease rabies, and it means fear of water. Because of this name, many people think that rabies makes one afraid of water. In fact, this is not the case (although rabies does cause mental confusion of other kinds). The name hydrophobia comes from the fact that animals and people with rabies get spasms in their throat muscles that are so painful that they cannot eat or drink, and so will refuse water in spite of being very thirsty.