diabetes

[ dahy-uh-bee-tis, -teez ]

nounPathology.
  1. any of several disorders characterized by increased urine production.

  2. Also called di·a·be·tes mel·li·tus [mel-i-tuhs, muh-lahy-]. /ˈmɛl ɪ təs, məˈlaɪ-/. a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism, usually occurring in genetically predisposed individuals, characterized by inadequate production or utilization of insulin and resulting in excessive amounts of glucose in the blood and urine, excessive thirst, weight loss, and in some cases progressive destruction of small blood vessels leading to such complications as infections and gangrene of the limbs or blindness.

  1. Also called di·a·be·tes in·sip·i·dus [in-sip-i-duhs]. /ɪnˈsɪp ɪ dəs/. increased urine production caused by inadequate secretion of vasopressin by the pituitary gland.

Origin of diabetes

1
First recorded in 1555–65; from New Latin, Latin, from Greek, equivalent to diabē- (variant stem of diabaínein “to go through, pass over,” equivalent to dia- “through” + baínein “to pass”) + -tēs agent suffix; see dia-

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How to use diabetes in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for diabetes

diabetes

/ (ˌdaɪəˈbiːtɪs, -tiːz) /


noun
  1. any of various disorders, esp diabetes mellitus, characterized by excretion of an abnormally large amount of urine

Origin of diabetes

1
C16: from Latin: siphon, from Greek, literally: a passing through (referring to the excessive urination), from diabainein to pass through, cross over; see diabase

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