influenza

in·flu·en·za  (nfl-nz)

n.

1. An acute contagious viral infection characterized by inflammation of the respiratory tract and by fever, chills, muscular pain, and prostration. Also called grippe.

2. Any of various viral infections of domestic animals characterized generally by fever and respiratory involvement.

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[Italian, from Medieval Latin nfluentia, influence (so called apparently from the belief that epidemics were due to the influence of the stars); see influence.]

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influ·enzal adj.

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influenza

Noun

a highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever, muscular pains, and catarrh [Italian: influence, hence incursion, epidemic]

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influenza  (nfl-nz)

A highly contagious infectious disease that is caused by any of various viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae and is characterized by fever, respiratory symptoms, fatigue, and muscle pain. It commonly occurs in epidemics, one of which killed 20 million people between 1917 and 1919.

Word History Since ancient times, influenza has periodically swept the world. Until recently, people could not tell how this illness, which we call the flu, could spread so widely. Before people knew that organisms cause disease, they thought the stars influenced the spread of influenza. Influenza comes ultimately from the Latin word influentia, meaning "influence of the stars." Today, however, the stars are no longer blamed for the flu. Inhaling influenza viruses causes the spread of the illness.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

influenza - an acute febrile highly contagious viral disease flu, grippe contagion, contagious disease - any disease easily transmitted by contact Asian influenza, Asiatic flu - influenza caused by the Asian virus that was first isolated in 1957 swine flu, swine influenza - an acute and highly contagious respiratory disease of swine caused by the orthomyxovirus thought to be the same virus that caused the 1918 influenza pandemic respiratory disease, respiratory disorder, respiratory illness - a disease affecting the respiratory system

Translations

influenza [ɪnfluˈɛnzə] n → gripe f

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influenza [ɪnfluˈɛnzə] n → grippe f

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influenza [ɪnfluˈɛnzə] n (Med) → Grippe f

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influenza [ɪnfluˈɛnzə] n (MED) → influenza