cholera
[ kol-er-uh ]
/ ˈkɒl ər ə /
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noun
Also called Asiatic cholera .Pathology. an acute, infectious disease, endemic in India and China and occasionally epidemic elsewhere, characterized by profuse diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, etc.
Veterinary Pathology. any of several diseases of domesticated animals that are characterized by depression, sleepiness, lack of appetite, and diarrhea.Compare fowl cholera, hog cholera.
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First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
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Origin of cholera
First recorded in 1600–05 in sense “gastrointestinal disease” and in 1800–05 for its current meaning(def. 1); from Latin: “disease caused by bile,” from Greek choléra; see choler
OTHER WORDS FROM cholera
chol·e·ra·ic [kol-uh-rey-ik], /ˌkɒl əˈreɪ ɪk/, adjectiveWords nearby cholera
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for cholera
British Dictionary definitions for cholera
cholera
/ (ˈkɒlərə) /
noun
an acute intestinal infection characterized by severe diarrhoea, cramp, etc: caused by ingestion of water or food contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio commaAlso called: Asiatic cholera, epidemic cholera, Indian cholera
Derived forms of cholera
choleroid, adjectiveWord Origin for cholera
C14: from Latin, from Greek kholera jaundice, from kholē bile
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Medical definitions for cholera
cholera
[ kŏl′ər-ə ]
n.
An acute epidemic infectious disease caused by Vibrio cholerae, characterized by profuse watery diarrhea, extreme loss of fluid and electrolytes, and prostration.
Any of various diseases of domesticated animals marked by severe gastroenteritis.
Other words from cholera
chol′e•ra′ic (-ə-rā′ĭk) adj.The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Scientific definitions for cholera
cholera
[ kŏl′ər-ə ]
An infectious, sometimes fatal disease of the small intestine caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It is spread from contaminated water and food and causes severe diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for cholera
cholera
[ (kol-uh-ruh) ]
An acute disease, and an infectious disease, caused by a kind of bacterium that affects the intestines. Transmitted by food or water that has been contaminated with raw sewage, cholera is often fatal and is characterized by severe vomiting, diarrhea, and collapse.
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.