hydrophobia

[ hahy-druh-foh-bee-uh ]
/ ˌhaɪ drəˈfoʊ bi ə /

noun

rabies.
an abnormal or unnatural dread of water.

Origin of hydrophobia

1540–50; < Late Latin < Greek hydrophobía. See hydro-1, -phobia

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.