¹plague

noun \ˈplāg\

: a large number of harmful or annoying things

: a disease that causes death and that spreads quickly to a large number of people

Full Definition of PLAGUE

a : a disastrous evil or affliction : calamity

b : a destructively numerous influx <a plague of locusts>

a : an epidemic disease causing a high rate of mortality : pestilence

b : a virulent contagious febrile disease that is caused by a bacterium (Yersinia pestis) and that occurs in bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic forms —called also black death

a : a cause of irritation : nuisance

b : a sudden unwelcome outbreak <a plague of burglaries>

See plague defined for English-language learners

See plague defined for kids

Origin of PLAGUE

Middle English plage, from Late Latin plaga, from Latin, blow; akin to Latin plangere to strike — more at plaint

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PLAGUE

Synonyms: pest, pestilence

Rhymes with PLAGUE

Haig, vague

²plague

verb

: to cause constant or repeated trouble, illness, etc., for (someone or something)

: to cause constant worry or distress to (someone)

plaguedplagu·ing

Full Definition of PLAGUE

transitive verb

: to smite, infest, or afflict with or as if with disease, calamity, or natural evil

a : to cause worry or distress to : hamper, burden

b : to disturb or annoy persistently

— plagu·er noun

See plague defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of PLAGUE

15th century

Related to PLAGUE

Synonyms: agonize, anguish, bedevil, beset, besiege, curse, excruciate, harrow, persecute, afflict, rack, torment, torture

Synonym Discussion of PLAGUE

worry, annoy, harass, harry, plague, pester, tease mean to disturb or irritate by persistent acts. worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation <pursued a policy of worrying the enemy>. annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks <you're doing that just to annoy me>. harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power <harassed on all sides by creditors>. harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment <the strikers had been harried by thugs>. plague implies a painful and persistent affliction <plagued all her life by poverty>. pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks <constantly pestered with trivial complaints>. tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath <children teased the dog>.

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

PLAGUE Defined for Kids

¹plague

noun \ˈplāg\

Definition of PLAGUE for Kids

: something that causes much distress <a plague of locusts>

: a disease that causes death and spreads quickly to a large number of people

: bubonic plague

²plague

verb

plaguedplagu·ing

Definition of PLAGUE for Kids

: to affect with disease or trouble <Fleas plague the poor dog.>

: to cause worry or distress to <I'm plagued by guilt.>

Medical Dictionary

plague

noun \ˈplāg\

Medical Definition of PLAGUE

: an epidemic disease causing a high rate of mortality : pestilence <a plague of cholera>

: a virulent contagious febrile disease that is caused by a bacterium of the genus Yersinia (Y. pestis synonym Pasteurella pestis), that occurs in bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic forms, and that is usually transmitted from rats to humans by the bite of infected fleas (as in bubonic plague) or directly from person to person (as in pneumonic plague)—called also black death