diphtheria

[ dif-theer-ee-uh, dip- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Pathology.

a febrile, infectious disease caused by the bacillus Corynebacterium diphtheriae, and characterized by the formation of a false membrane in the air passages, especially the throat.

diphtheria

/ dɪf-; dɪf-; dɪpˈθɪərɪə; ˌdɪpθəˈrɪtɪk; dɪpˈθɛrɪk; dɪf- /

noun

an acute contagious disease caused by the bacillus Corynebacterium diphtheriae, producing fever, severe prostration, and difficulty in breathing and swallowing as the result of swelling of the throat and formation of a false membrane

diphtheria

An infectious disease caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae and characterized by fever, swollen glands, and the formation of a membrane in the throat that prevents breathing. Infants are routinely vaccinated against diphtheria, which was once a common cause of death in children.

diphtheria

An acute disease , and a contagious disease , caused by bacteria that invade mucous membranes in the body, especially those found in the throat. The bacteria produce toxic substances that can spread throughout the body.

Discover More

Notes

In developed countries, diphtheria has been virtually wiped out through an active program of infant immunization .

Discover More

Derived Forms

�徱��ˈ�ٳ��, adjective
ˈ�徱��ٳ��ˌ��Ǿ��, adjective

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of diphtheria¹

1850–55; < New Latin < French �徱��ٳ�é�� < Greek �徱��ٳ�é�� ( a ) skin, leather + -ia -ia

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of diphtheria¹

C19: New Latin, from French �徱��ٳ�é��, from Greek diphthera leather; from the nature of the membrane

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Other vaccine-preventable diseases would also probably pop up in the coming quarter-century — 190 cases of rubella, 18 of poliomyelitis, eight of diphtheria, according to the Stanford team’s models.

From

The school requires students in seventh grade and above to get their Tdap booster, which provides elevated immunity against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, or whooping cough.

From

Then in the 1970s the diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough jab was linked to brain injury in children, before later being found safe.

From

As early as 2 months old, babies get a formulation called DTaP, which besides pertussis also protects against diphtheria and tetanus.

From

As was typically the case, Trump offered no further specifics, but all 50 states mandate not only MMR vaccinations, but shots against polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus and chicken pox for all schoolchildren.

From

diphosphoglycerate diphtheritic

Browse