diphtheria

noun diph·the·ria \dif-ˈthir-ē-ə, ÷dip-\

medical : a serious disease that makes breathing very difficult

Full Definition of DIPHTHERIA

: an acute febrile contagious disease typically marked by the formation of a false membrane especially in the throat and caused by a gram-positive bacterium (Corynebacterium diphtheriae) that produces a toxin causing inflammation of the heart and nervous system

— diph·the·ri·al \-ē-əl\ adjective

— diph·the·rit·ic \ˌdif-thə-ˈri-tik, ÷ˌdip-\ adjective

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Origin of DIPHTHERIA

New Latin, from French diphthérie, from Greek diphthera leather; from the toughness of the false membrane

First Known Use: circa 1851

Rhymes with DIPHTHERIA

Algeria, Assyria, asteria, bacteria, Egeria, Elyria, Iberia, Illyria, Liberia, Nigeria, plumeria, porphyria, Siberia, wisteria

DIPHTHERIAL Defined for Kids

diphtheria

noun diph·the·ria \dif-ˈthir-ē-ə, dip-\

Definition of DIPHTHERIA for Kids

: a contagious disease that often makes breathing and swallowing difficult

Medical Dictionary

diphtheria

noun diph·the·ria \dif-ˈthir-ē-ə, dip-\

Medical Definition of DIPHTHERIA

: an acute febrile contagious disease typically marked by the formation of a false membrane especially in the throat and caused by a bacterium of the genus Corynebacterium (C. diphtheriae) which produces a toxin causing inflammation of the heart and nervous system

—diph·the·ri·al \-ē-əl\ adjective