psittacosis

noun psit·ta·co·sis \ˌsi-tə-ˈkō-səs\

Definition of PSITTACOSIS

: an infectious disease of birds caused by a bacterium (Chlamydia psittaci), marked by diarrhea and wasting, and transmissible to humans in whom it occurs as a flu-like illness often accompanied by pneumonia —called also ornithosis, parrot fever

— psit·ta·co·tic \-ˈkä-tik, -ˈkō-\ adjective

See psittacosis defined for kids

Origin of PSITTACOSIS

New Latin, from Latin psittacus

First Known Use: 1897

Rhymes with PSITTACOSIS

brucellosis, cyanosis, dermatosis, diagnosis, halitosis, heterosis, keratosis, scoliosis, silicosis, symbiosis

Medical Dictionary

psittacosis

noun psit·ta·co·sis \ˌsit-ə-ˈkō-səs\

plural psit·ta·co·ses \-ˌsēz\

Medical Definition of PSITTACOSIS

: an infectious disease of birds caused by a bacterium of the genus Chlamydia (C. psittaci), marked by diarrhea and wasting, and transmissible to humans in whom it usually occurs as an atypical pneumonia accompanied by high fever—called also parrot fever; compare ornithosis

—psit·ta·co·tic \-ˈkät-ik, -ˈkōt-\ adjective