whooping cough
[ hoo-ping, hoo p-ing ]
/ ˈhu pɪŋ, ˈhʊp ɪŋ /
noun Pathology.
an infectious disease of the respiratory mucous membrane, caused by Bordetella pertussis, characterized by a series of short, convulsive coughs followed by a deep inspiration accompanied by a whooping sound.
Also called
pertussis.
Origin of whooping cough
First recorded in 1730–40
Words nearby whooping cough
whoop-de-do,
whoopee,
whoopee cushion,
whooper,
whooper swan,
whooping cough,
whooping cough vaccine,
whooping crane,
whoopla,
whoops,
whoopsie
Example sentences from the Web for whooping cough
British Dictionary definitions for whooping cough
whooping cough
/ (ˈhuːpɪŋ) /
noun
an acute infectious disease characterized by coughing spasms that end with a shrill crowing sound on inspiration: caused by infection with the bacillus Bordetella pertussis
Technical name: pertussis
Medical definitions for whooping cough
whooping cough
[ hōō′pĭng, wōō′-, hup′ĭng ]
n.
A highly contagious disease of the respiratory system, usually affecting children, that is caused by Bordetella pertussis and is marked in its advanced stage by spasms of coughing interspersed with deep, noisy inspirations.
pertussis
Scientific definitions for whooping cough
whooping cough
[ hōō′pĭng, hup′ĭng, wōō′pĭng, wup′ĭng ]
An infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bordatella pertussis, seen most commonly in children and characterized by coughing spasms often ending in loud gasps. Vaccinations usually given during infancy confer immunity to the disease. Also called pertussis
Cultural definitions for whooping cough
whooping cough
[ (hooh-ping, hoop-ing) ]
An acute and infectious disease occurring mainly in children and characterized by violent coughing. Caused by a kind of bacteria, whooping cough has largely been eradicated in the United States through a program of vaccination, which is begun when infants are just three months old.