typhus
[ tahy-fuh s ]
/ ˈtaɪ fəs /
noun Pathology.
an acute, infectious disease caused by several species of Rickettsia, transmitted by lice and fleas, and characterized by acute prostration, headache, and a peculiar eruption of reddish spots on the body.
Also called
typhus fever.
Origin of typhus
1635–45; < New Latin < Greek
tŷphos vapor
OTHER WORDS FROM typhus
ty·phous, adjectiveWords nearby typhus
typhoid vaccine,
typhoidal,
typhoidin,
typhon,
typhoon,
typhus,
typhus vaccine,
typical,
typicon,
typify,
typing
Example sentences from the Web for typhus
British Dictionary definitions for typhus
typhus
/ (ˈtaɪfəs) /
noun
any one of a group of acute infectious rickettsial diseases characterized by high fever, skin rash, and severe headache
Also called: typhus fever
Derived forms of typhus
typhous, adjectiveWord Origin for typhus
C18: from New Latin
tӯphus, from Greek
tuphos fever; related to
tuphein to smoke
Medical definitions for typhus
typhus
[ tī′fəs ]
n.
Any of several forms of infectious disease caused by Rickettsia, especially those transmitted by fleas, lice, or mites, and characterized generally by severe headache, sustained high fever, depression, delirium, and the eruption of red rashes on the skin.
camp fever prison fever
Other words from typhus
ty′phous (-fəs) adj.Scientific definitions for typhus
typhus
[ tī′fəs ]
Any of several forms of an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Rickettsia transmitted by fleas, mites, or especially lice, and characterized by severe headache, high fever, and skin rash. Louse-born bacteria that cause typhus are especially virulent and can cause epidemics of the disease, which may be fatal in people with weakened immune systems.
Cultural definitions for typhus
typhus
[ (teye-fuhs) ]
A group of acute and contagious diseases, often fatal, marked by severe headaches and high fever. Typhus is transmitted to humans by fleas, lice, or mites that are infected with the microorganism that causes the disease.