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definitions

diarrhea

or di·ar·rhoe·a

[ dahy-uh-ree-uh ]
/ ˌdaɪ əˈri ə /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR diarrhea ON THESAURUS.COM

noun Pathology.

an intestinal disorder characterized by abnormal frequency and fluidity of fecal evacuations.

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RELATED WORDS

flux, dysentery

Nearby words

  1. diarbekr,
  2. diarch,
  3. diarchy,
  4. diarist,
  5. diarize,
  6. diarrhetic,
  7. diarrhoea,
  8. diarthric,
  9. diarthrodial cartilage,
  10. diarthrodial joint

Origin of diarrhea

1350–1400; Middle English diaria < Late Latin diarrhoea < Greek diárrhoia a flowing through, equivalent to diarrho- (variant stem of diarrheîn to flow through) + -ia -ia
Related formsdi·ar·rhe·al, di·ar·rhe·ic, di·ar·rhet·ic [dahy-uh-ret-ik] /ˌdaɪ əˈrɛt ɪk/, di·ar·rhoe·al, di·ar·rhoe·ic, di·ar·rhoet·ic, adjectivean·ti·di·ar·rhe·al, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for diarrhea

Word Origin and History for diarrhea

diarrhea

n.

late 14c., from Old French diarrie, from Late Latin diarrhoea, from Greek diarrhoia "diarrhea" (coined by Hippocrates), literally "a flowing through," from diarrhein "to flow through," from dia- "through" (see dia-) + rhein "to flow" (see rheum). Respelled 16c. from diarria on Latin model.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for diarrhea

diarrhea

n.

Excessive and frequent evacuation of watery feces.
Related formsdi′ar•rhe′al null null adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for diarrhea

diarrhea

[ dī′ə-rē′ə ]

Excessive and frequent evacuation of watery feces, usually a symptom of a gastrointestinal disorder. Severe, prolonged diarrhea can lead to dehydration.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Culture definitions for diarrhea

diarrhea

[ (deye-uh-ree-uh) ]

The frequent passage of abnormally watery feces, which is a sign of illness.

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.