kuru

[ koo r-oo ]
/ ˈkʊər u /

noun Pathology.

a fatal degenerative disease of the central nervous system characterized by progressive lack of coordination and dementia, known only among certain Melanesian peoples, especially the Fore of New Guinea, and caused by a slow virus: now virtually extinct.

Origin of kuru

First recorded in 1955–60; < a dialect of Fore, a language of the Eastern Highlands District

Words nearby kuru

kursaal, kursk, kurt, kurta, kurtosis, kuru, kurukh, kurume, kurunegala, kurus, kurusu

Example sentences from the Web for kuru

British Dictionary definitions for kuru

kuru
/ (ˈkʊruː) /

noun

a degenerative disease of the nervous system, restricted to certain tribes in New Guinea, marked by loss of muscular control and thought to be caused by a slow virus

Word Origin for kuru

C20: from a native name

Medical definitions for kuru

kuru
[ kur′ōō ]

n.

A progressive, fatal spongiform encephalopathy, probably caused by a slow-acting virus, that is endemic to certain peoples of New Guinea and may be transmitted through cannibalism.

Scientific definitions for kuru

kuru
[ kur′ōō ]

A rare, progressive, degenerative neurological disease found in certain peoples of New Guinea and associated with cannibalism. It is thought to be caused by a prion and results in a fatal encephalopathy. See Note at prion.