measles

noun plural but singular or plural in construction mea·sles \ˈmē-zəlz\

: a disease that causes a fever and red spots on the skin

Full Definition of MEASLES

a : an acute contagious disease that is caused by a morbillivirus (species Measles virus) and is marked especially by an eruption of distinct red circular spots —called also rubeola

b : any of various eruptive diseases (as German measles)

[Middle English mesel infested with tapeworms, literally, leprous, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin misellus leper, from Latin, wretch, from misellus, diminutive of miser miserable] : infestation with or disease caused by larval tapeworms in the muscles and tissues

Origin of MEASLES

Middle English meseles, plural of mesel measles, spot characteristic of measles; akin to Middle Dutch masel spot characteristic of measles

First Known Use: 14th century

MEASLES Defined for Kids

measles

noun mea·sles \ˈmē-zəlz\

Definition of MEASLES for Kids

: a contagious disease in which there are fever and red spots on the skin

: any of several diseases (as German measles) resembling true measles

Medical Dictionary

measles

noun plural but singular or plural in construction mea·sles \ˈmē-zəlz\

Medical Definition of MEASLES

a : an acute contagious disease that is caused by a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus (species Measles virus), that commences with catarrhal symptoms, conjunctivitis, cough, and Koplik's spots on the oral mucous membrane, and that is marked by the appearance on the third or fourth day of an eruption of distinct red circular spots which coalesce in a crescentic form, are slightly raised, and after the fourth day of the eruption gradually decline—called also rubeola b : any of various eruptive diseases (as German measles)

: infestation with or disease caused by larval tapeworms in the muscles and tissues; specifically : infestation of cattle and swine with cysticerci of tapeworms that as adults parasitize humans—compare measle