catarrh

[ kuh-tahr ]

/ kəˈtɑr /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR catarrh ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Pathology. inflammation of a mucous membrane, especially of the respiratory tract, accompanied by excessive secretions.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

cataplectic, cataplexy, catapult, cataract, cataractogenic, catarrh, catarrhal fever, catarrhal gastritis, catarrhal inflammation, catarrhine, catastalsis

Origin of catarrh

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin catarrhus < Greek katárrous literally, down-flowing, equivalent to katarr(eîn) to flow down (kata- cata- + rheîn to flow) + -ous, variant of -eos (theme vowel + adj. suffix)

Related formsca·tarrh·al, ca·tarrh·ous, adjectiveca·tarrh·al·ly, adverbnon·ca·tar·rhal, adjectivepost·ca·tarrh·al, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for catarrh

Of all the symptoms of measles, the catarrh of the mucous membranes is undoubtedly the most pathognomonic.
A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I|Various
He cured the pyorrhea alveolaris, and cured the catarrh, too, at the same time.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 358, November 11, 1882|Various
Inflammation from cold or catarrh may cause deafness, which if neglected may permanently injure the ear.
Civics and Health|William H. Allen
The catarrh has left, while his stomach is simply doing nobly.
Harper's Young People, December 16, 1879|Various

Thus any excessive secretion, as of bronchitis or catarrh, is carried upwards, and finally expelled by coughing.
A Practical Physiology|Albert F. Blaisdell

British Dictionary definitions for catarrh

catarrh

/ (kəˈtɑː) /

noun

inflammation of a mucous membrane with increased production of mucus, esp affecting the nose and throat in the common cold

the mucus so formed

Derived Formscatarrhal or catarrhous, adjective

Word Origin for catarrh

C16: via French from Late Latin catarrhus, from Greek katarrous, from katarrhein to flow down, from kata- down + rhein to flow

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

Word Origin and History for catarrh

catarrh

late 14c., from Medieval Latin catarrus, from Late Latin catarrhus, from Greek katarrhous "a catarrh, a head cold," literally "a flowing down," earlier kata rrhoos, ultimately from kata- "down" (see cata-) + rhein "to flow" (see rheum). Related: Catarrhalcatarrhous.

Medicine definitions for catarrh

catarrh

[ kə-tär′ ]

n.

Inflammation of mucous membranes, especially of the nose and throat.

Related formsca•tarrh′al adj.