disease

[dih-zeez]

noun

1. a disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection, poisons, nutritional deficiency or imbalance, toxicity, or unfavorable environmental factors; illness; sickness; ailment.

   Synonyms: malady, disorder, infirmity, indisposition, distemper, derangement, complaint, morbidity
   Antonyms: health

2. any abnormal condition in a plant that interferes with its vital physiological processes, caused by pathogenic microorganisms, parasites, unfavorable environmental, genetic, or nutritional factors, etc.

3. any harmful, depraved, or morbid condition, as of the mind or society.

   His fascination with executions is a disease.

4. decomposition of a material under special circumstances.

   tin disease.

verb (used with object)

diseased, diseasing 

1. to affect with disease; make ill.

   Antonyms: cure

disease

/ dɪˈziːz /

noun

1. any impairment of normal physiological function affecting all or part of an organism, esp a specific pathological change caused by infection, stress, etc, producing characteristic symptoms; illness or sickness in general

2. a corresponding condition in plants

3. any situation or condition likened to this

   the disease of materialism

Other Word Forms

• diseasedly adverb
• diseasedness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of disease¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English disese, from Anglo-French dese(a)se, disaise; dis- ¹ + ease

Word History and Origins

Origin of disease¹

C14: from Old French desaise; see _dis- ¹ , _ease

Example Sentences

It can exacerbate conditions like asthma and heart disease, and, in some causes, can damage neural connections in the brain.

From BBC

One of the cruellest and most devastating diseases – Huntington's – has been successfully treated for the first time, say doctors.

From BBC

The centre was providing blood services, trauma care, cancer medications, and chronic disease treatment.

From BBC

Experts fear that if parents refrain from getting their children vaccinated as a result of his unfounded claims, it risks the re-emergence of diseases like measles.

From BBC

The now 17-year-old wants to raise awareness around how treatment can affect young people's self-esteem, after changes in her appearance made her feel "awful", on top of the strains of dealing with the disease.

From BBC

Related Words

• Cancer 
• bug 
• condition 
• contamination 
• defect 
• disorder 
• epidemic 
• fever 
• flu 
• illness 
• infection 
• inflammation 
• malady 
• plague 
• sickness 
• stroke 
• syndrome 
• virus