miasma

[ mahy-az-muh, mee- ]
See synonyms for: miasmamiasmaticmiasmic on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural mi·as·mas, mi·as·ma·ta [mahy-az-muh-tuh, mee-]. /maɪˈæz mə tə, mi-/.
  1. noxious exhalations from putrescent organic matter; poisonous effluvia or germs polluting the atmosphere.

  2. a dangerous, foreboding, or deathlike influence or atmosphere.

Origin of miasma

1
1655–65; <New Latin <Greek míasma stain, pollution, akin to miaínein to pollute, stain

Other words from miasma

  • mi·as·mal, mi·as·mat·ic [mahy-az-mat-ik], /ˌmaɪ æzˈmæt ɪk/, mi·as·mat·i·cal, mi·as·mic, adjective
  • un·mi·as·mal, adjective
  • un·mi·as·mat·ic, adjective
  • un·mi·as·mat·i·cal, adjective
  • un·mi·as·mic, adjective

Words Nearby miasma

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How to use miasma in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for miasma

miasma

/ (mɪˈæzmə) /


nounplural -mata (-mətə) or -mas
  1. an unwholesome or oppressive atmosphere

  2. pollution in the atmosphere, esp noxious vapours from decomposing organic matter

Origin of miasma

1
C17: New Latin, from Greek: defilement, from miainein to defile

Derived forms of miasma

  • miasmal, miasmatic (ˌmiːəzˈmætɪk), miasmatical or miasmic, adjective

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