dengue

American  

[deng-gey, -gee] / ˈdɛŋ geɪ, -gi /

noun

Pathology.

1. an infectious, eruptive fever of warm climates, usually epidemic, characterized especially by severe pains in the joints and muscles.

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dengue British  

/ ˈdændɪ, ˈdɛŋɡɪ /

noun

1. Also called: breakbone fever.  an acute viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, characterized by headache, fever, pains in the joints, and skin rash

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dengue Scientific  

/ dĕng′gē,-gā /

1. An acute, infectious tropical disease caused by any of several viruses of the genus Flavivirus. It is transmitted by mosquitoes, and characterized by high fever, rash, headache, and severe muscle and joint pain.

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Etymology

Origin of dengue

An Americanism first recorded in 1820–30; from Latin American Spanish: literally, “prudery, affectation,” by folk etymology from Swahili -dinga, kadinga “seizure, cramp” or from another Bantu language

Explanation

Dengue is a tropical disease that's spread through mosquito bites. The best way to avoid getting dengue is to use insect repellant and cover windows with mosquito netting. Dengue, or dengue fever, is a common viral illness in more than 100 countries around the world. It is usually relatively mild, but about 18 percent of infected people end up in the hospital, some of them requiring blood transfusions. Symptoms include body aches, fever, and rash, with severe cases causing low platelet counts. As the climate warms and mosquito populations grow, dengue cases have also increased. Dengue is derived from the Swahili dinga, "seizure or cramp."

Example Sentences

Dengue fever, chikungunya and oropouche are running wild.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 28, 2025

Dengue is endemic in tropical countries, and outbreaks often occur in urban areas with poor sanitation which allows virus-carrying mosquitoes to multiply.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2025

Dengue fever can cause flu-like symptoms including high fever, severe headache, muscle pain and a rash.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 9, 2024

The need for new Dengue diagnostics and interventions is significant and further progress against other neglected tropical diseases is imperative; the work of scientists in both the public and private sectors is far from over.

From Salon • May 23, 2024

Dengue, deng′gā, n. an acute tropical epidemic fever, seldom fatal—also breakbone-fever, dandy-fever.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various