measles
NounOpen English WordNet
Noun (1)
- an acute and highly contagious viral disease marked by distinct red spots followed by a rash; occurs primarily in childrenSynonyms: rubeolamorbilliType of contagious disease, contagionKinds German measles, rubella
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: From 1st Measle.
Leprosy; also, a leper. obsolete
Origin: D. mazelen; akin to G. masern, pl., and E. mazer, and orig. meaning, little spots. See Mazer.
1. Medicine A contagious viral febrile disorder commencing with catarrhal symptoms, and marked by the appearance on the third day of an eruption of distinct red circular spots, which coalesce in a crescentic form, are slightly raised above the surface, and after the fourth day of the eruption gradually decline; rubeola. It is a common childhood disease.
Measles commences with the ordinary symptoms of fever.— Am. Cyc.
2. Veter. Med. A disease of cattle and swine in which the flesh is filled with the embryos of different varieties of the tapeworm.
3. A disease of trees. obsolete
4. pl. Zoology The larvae of any tapeworm (Taenia) in the cysticercus stage, when contained in meat. Called also bladder worms.
German measles A mild contagious viral disease, which may cause birth defects if contracted by a pregnant woman during early pregnancy; also called rubella.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54 · with additions: +PJC, GCIDE editors