diarrhea

or di·ar·rhoe·a

[dahy-uh-ree-uh]

noun Pathology.

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

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. 2018

Examples from the Web for diarrheal

Historical Examples of diarrheal

After the administration per os, much of the barium must be carried off in the diarrheal stools.
Barium, A Cause of the Loco-Weed Disease
Albert Cornelius Crawford
The severity of diarrheal symptoms is much increased by the character and abundance of bacterial poisons.
Intestinal Ills
Alcinous Burton Jamison
The mucilaginous character of Comfrey root renders it useful in coughs and diarrheal complaints.
Ginseng and Other Medicinal Plants
A. R. (Arthur Robert) Harding
The invasion of the gastrointestinal tract is announced by diarrheal symptoms.
Special Report on Diseases of Cattle
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Word Origin and History for diarrheal

diarrhea

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.

diarrheal in Medicine

diarrhea

Excessive and frequent evacuation of watery feces.

Related formsdi′ar•rhe′al null null adj.

diarrheal in Science

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.

diarrheal in Culture

diarrhea

[(deye-uh-ree-uh)]

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