miasma

[ mahy-az-muh, mee- ]
/ maɪˈæz mə, mi- /

noun, plural mi·as·mas, mi·as·ma·ta [mahy-az-muh-tuh, mee-] /maɪˈæz mə tə, mi-/.

noxious exhalations from putrescent organic matter; poisonous effluvia or germs polluting the atmosphere.
a dangerous, foreboding, or deathlike influence or atmosphere.

Origin of miasma

1655–65; < New Latin < Greek míasma stain, pollution, akin to miaínein to pollute, stain

OTHER WORDS FROM miasma

Words nearby miasma

miao, miao-yao, miaou, miaow, miaskovsky, miasma, miass, miaul, miazine, mib, mic

Example sentences from the Web for miasmal

  • There were decaying patches on the fungus growths and a miasmal mist was descending from it toward the ship.

    The Sky Trap |Frank Belknap Long

  • The miasmal vapors that clustered thickly about the flats by night gathered their linen and fled like the hunted.

    The Argus Pheasant |John Charles Beecham

British Dictionary definitions for miasmal

miasma
/ (mɪˈæzmə) /

noun plural -mata (-mətə) or -mas

an unwholesome or oppressive atmosphere
pollution in the atmosphere, esp noxious vapours from decomposing organic matter

Derived forms of miasma

miasmal, miasmatic (ˌmiːəzˈmætɪk), miasmatical or miasmic, adjective

Word Origin for miasma

C17: New Latin, from Greek: defilement, from miainein to defile