influenza
[ in-floo-en-zuh ]
/ ˌɪn fluˈɛn zə /
noun
Pathology.
an acute, commonly epidemic disease, occurring in several forms, caused by numerous rapidly mutating viral strains and characterized by respiratory symptoms and general prostration.
Compare flu.
Veterinary Pathology.
an acute, contagious disease occurring in horses and swine, characterized by fever, depression, and catarrhal inflammations of the eyes, nasal passages, and bronchi, and caused by a virus.
Origin of influenza
1735–45; < Italian < Medieval Latin
influentia
influence
OTHER WORDS FROM influenza
in·flu·en·zal, adjective in·flu·en·za·like, adjective post·in·flu·en·zal, adjectiveWords nearby influenza
Example sentences from the Web for influenza
British Dictionary definitions for influenza
influenza
/ (ˌɪnflʊˈɛnzə) /
noun
a highly contagious and often epidemic viral disease characterized by fever, prostration, muscular aches and pains, and inflammation of the respiratory passages
Also called: grippe, informal flu
Derived forms of influenza
influenzal, adjectiveWord Origin for influenza
C18: from Italian, literally:
influence, hence, incursion, epidemic (first applied to influenza in 1743)
Medical definitions for influenza
influenza
[ ĭn′flōō-ĕn′zə ]
n.
An acute contagious viral infection, commonly occurring in epidemics or pandemics, and characterized by inflammation of the respiratory tract and by the sudden onset, fever, chills, muscular pain, headache, and severe prostration.
grippe
Other words from influenza
in′flu•en′zal adj.Scientific definitions for influenza
influenza
[ ĭn′flōō-ĕn′zə ]
A highly contagious infectious disease that is caused by any of various viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae and is characterized by fever, respiratory symptoms, fatigue, and muscle pain. It commonly occurs in epidemics, one of which killed 20 million people between 1917 and 1919.
Word History
Since ancient times, influenza has periodically swept the world. Until recently, people could not tell how this illness, which we call the flu, could spread so widely. Before people knew that organisms cause disease, they thought the stars influenced the spread of influenza. Influenza comes ultimately from the Latin word influentia, meaning influence of the stars. Today, however, the stars are no longer blamed for the flu. Inhaling influenza viruses causes the spread of the illness.
Cultural definitions for influenza
influenza
[ (in-flooh-en-zuh) ]
Commonly called the flu; an acute and infectious disease of the respiratory system caused by a virus and characterized by fever, muscle pain, headache, and inflammation of the mucous membranes in the respiratory tract.