rabies

[ rey-beez ]

nounPathology.
  1. an infectious disease of dogs, cats, and other animals, transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected animal and usually fatal if prophylactic treatment is not administered: caused by an RNA virus of the rhabdovirus group; hydrophobia.

Origin of rabies

1
First recorded in 1655–65; from Latin rabiēs “rage, madness,” from rab(ere) “to be mad, rave” + iēs, abstract noun suffix

Other words from rabies

  • rab·ic [rab-ik, rey-bik], /ˈræb ɪk, ˈreɪ bɪk/, adjective
  • an·ti·ra·bies, adjective, noun

Words Nearby rabies

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How to use rabies in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for rabies

rabies

/ (ˈreɪbiːz) /


noun
  1. pathol an acute infectious viral disease of the nervous system transmitted by the saliva of infected animals, esp dogs. It is characterized by excessive salivation, aversion to water, convulsions, and paralysis: Also called: hydrophobia, lyssa

Origin of rabies

1
C17: from Latin: madness, from rabere to rave

Derived forms of rabies

  • rabic (ˈræbɪk) or rabietic (ˌreɪbɪˈɛtɪk), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for rabies

rabies

[ bēz ]


  1. A usually fatal infectious disease of warm-blooded animals caused by a virus of the genus Lyssavirus that causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. It is transmitted by the bite of an infected animal, such as a dog or bat and can be prevented in humans by a vaccine. See Note at hydrophobia.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for rabies

rabies

[ (ray-beez) ]


An acute disease, caused by a virus, which attacks the central nervous system and results in paralysis and death if not treated promptly. Rabies is transmitted to humans by the bite of an animal infected with the disease.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.