diarrhea

Or di·ar·rhoe·a

[dahy-uh-ree-uh]

noun

Pathology.

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

diarrhea

1. Excessive and frequent evacuation of watery feces, usually a symptom of a gastrointestinal disorder. Severe, prolonged diarrhea can lead to dehydration.

diarrhea

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

Other Word Forms

• diarrheal adjective
• diarrheic adjective
• diarrhetic adjective
• diarrhoeal adjective
• diarrhoeic adjective
• diarrhoetic adjective
• antidiarrheal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of diarrhea¹

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

Example Sentences

Virtually every person she encountered suffered from diarrhea, skin infections, lung problems and chronic hunger, she said.

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Before she even left for home, Ted vomited and had diarrhea on the grass outside.

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Symptoms in humans may include fever, headache, muscle aches, jaundice, vomiting, diarrhea and skin rash.

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If ingested, it could cause nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, and drinking a single glass could result in liver failure.

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Listeria can cause high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

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