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Synonyms

croup

1 American  
[kroop] / krup /

noun

Pathology.

  1. any condition of the larynx or trachea characterized by a hoarse cough and difficult breathing.

croup 2 American  
[kroop] / krup /

noun

  1. the highest part of the rump of a quadruped, especially a horse.

croup 1 British  
/ kruːp /

noun

  1. a throat condition, occurring usually in children, characterized by a hoarse cough and laboured breathing, resulting from inflammation and partial obstruction of the larynx

"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
croup 2 British  
/ kruːp /

noun

  1. the hindquarters of a quadruped, esp a horse

"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
croup Scientific  
/ kro̅o̅p /

  1. An acute infection that affects the upper and lower respiratory tracts, especially the larynx, trachea, and bronchi, and is caused most commonly by viruses of the genus Paramyxovirus. It is characterized by labored breathing and obstruction below the glottis, accompanied by a barking cough.

Other Word Forms

  • croupous adjective

Etymology

Origin of croup1

First recorded in 1755–65; noun use of croup “to cry hoarsely” (now dialectal), blend of croak and whoop

Origin of croup2

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English croupe, from Middle French, Anglo-French crupe, Old French crope, from Germanic; crop

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

If infected, a "small but significant proportion" among the immunocompromised will develop more severe disease where the lungs are affected, with wheezing, breathlessness and symptoms of croup.

From BBC • Jan. 7, 2025

Her mother, Trista Hamsmith, took the toddler to the pediatrician, who suspected croup.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 29, 2024

It causes up to 10% of human respiratory infections, mainly in children and immunocompromised people, with symptoms ranging from mild coughs and sniffles to bronchitis and croup.

From Science Daily • Nov. 14, 2023

Michaela Stevens has complained about the treatment of her son Archie, who has suffered with croup - a common infection that affects children's airways from birth.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2023

It was rumored that she had had no childhood diseases, was never known to have chicken pox, croup or even a runny nose.

From "Sula" by Toni Morrison

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.