measles
[ mee-zuh lz ]
/ ˈmi zəlz /
noun
(used with a singular or plural verb) Pathology.
- an acute infectious disease occurring mostly in children, characterized by catarrhal and febrile symptoms and an eruption of small red spots; rubeola.
- any of certain other eruptive diseases.Compare German measles.
Veterinary Pathology.
a disease in swine and other animals caused by the larvae of certain tapeworms of the genus Taenia.
(used with a plural verb)
the larvae that cause measles in swine and other animals, and that upon maturation produce trichinosis in humans.
Origin of measles
1275–1325; Middle English
mesels, variant of
maseles (plural); cognate with Dutch
maselen (plural), Middle Dutch
masel; akin to German
Masern measles, plural of
Maser speck
Words nearby measles
Example sentences from the Web for measles
British Dictionary definitions for measles
measles
/ (ˈmiːzəlz) /
noun (functioning as singular or plural)
a highly contagious viral disease common in children, characterized by fever, profuse nasal discharge of mucus, conjunctivitis, and a rash of small red spots spreading from the forehead down to the limbs
Technical names: morbilli, rubeola See also German measles
a disease of cattle, sheep, and pigs, caused by infestation with tapeworm larvae
Word Origin for measles
C14: from Middle Low German
masele spot on the skin; influenced by Middle English
mesel leper, from Latin
misellus, diminutive of
miser wretched
Medical definitions for measles
measles
[ mē′zəlz ]
n.
An acute contagious viral disease usually occurring in childhood and characterized by eruption of red spots on the skin, fever, and catarrhal symptoms.
rubeola
Black measles.
Any of several other diseases, especially German measles, that cause similar but milder symptoms.
A disease of cattle and swine caused by tapeworm larvae.
Scientific definitions for measles
measles
[ mē′zəlz ]
An infectious disease caused by the rubeola virus of the genus Morbillivirus, characterized by fever, cough, and a rash that begins on the face and spreads to other parts of the body. Vaccinations, usually given in early childhood, confer immunity to measles. Also called rubeola
Cultural definitions for measles
measles
An acute and contagious disease caused by a virus and characterized by the outbreak of small red spots on the skin. Measles occurs most often in school-age children. (Compare German measles.)