diarrhea
or di·ar·rhoe·a
[ dahy-uh-ree-uh ]
/ ˌdaɪ əˈri ə /
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noun Pathology.
an intestinal disorder characterized by abnormal frequency and fluidity of fecal evacuations.
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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
OTHER WORDS FROM diarrhea
di·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, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use diarrhea in a sentence
Scientific 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.
Cultural 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.