malaria

[ muh-lair-ee-uh ]
/ məˈlɛər i ə /

noun

Pathology. any of a group of diseases, usually intermittent or remittent, characterized by attacks of chills, fever, and sweating: formerly supposed to be due to swamp exhalations but now known to be caused by a parasitic protozoan, which is transferred to the human bloodstream by a mosquito of the genus Anopheles and which occupies and destroys red blood cells.
Archaic. unwholesome or poisonous air.

Origin of malaria

1730–40; < Italian, contraction of mala aria bad air

OTHER WORDS FROM malaria

Example sentences from the Web for malarial

British Dictionary definitions for malarial

malaria
/ (məˈlɛərɪə) /

noun

an infectious disease characterized by recurring attacks of chills and fever, caused by the bite of an anopheles mosquito infected with any of four protozoans of the genus Plasmodium (P. vivax, P. falciparum, P. malariae, or P. ovale)

Derived forms of malaria

malarial, malarian or malarious, adjective

Word Origin for malaria

C18: from Italian mala aria bad air, from the belief that the disease was caused by the unwholesome air in swampy districts

Medical definitions for malarial

malaria
[ mə-lârē-ə ]

n.

An infectious disease characterized by cycles of chills, fever, and sweating, caused by the parasitic infection of red blood cells by a protozoan of the genus Plasmodium, which is transmitted by the bite of an infected female anopheles mosquito. jungle fever paludism swamp fever

Other words from malaria

ma•lari•al null null adj.

Scientific definitions for malarial

malaria
[ mə-lârē-ə ]

An infectious disease of tropical areas caused by the parasitic infection of red blood cells by a protozoan of the genus Plasmodium, which is transmitted by the bite of an infected female mosquito. Malaria is characterized by recurrent episodes of chills, fever, sweating, and anemia and is endemic in Africa, Central America, and much of Southern Asia and northern South America.

Cultural definitions for malarial

malaria
[ (muh-lair-ee-uh) ]

An infectious disease caused by a parasite that is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. Persons suffering from malaria experience periodic episodes of chills and fever.