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Synonyms

mange

American  
[meynj] / meɪndʒ /

noun

Veterinary Pathology.
  1. any of various skin diseases caused by parasitic mites, affecting animals and sometimes humans and characterized by loss of hair and scabby eruptions.


mange British  
/ meɪndʒ /

noun

  1. an infectious disorder mainly affecting domestic animals, characterized by itching, formation of papules and vesicles, and loss of hair: caused by parasitic mites

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of mange

1375–1425; late Middle English manjewe < Middle French mangeue an eating, itch, derivative of mangier to eat; manger

Explanation

Mange is a skin disease caused by parasites. If your dog gets mange, she'll be very itchy and may develop some bald patches in her fur. Time for a trip to the vet. Mammals are vulnerable to mange, which they get when tiny mites embed themselves in their skin. While humans and plants can also be infected by mites, the resulting conditions have different names, including scabies in the case of people. Mange is generally only used for furry mammals including dogs, cats, horses, coyotes, and sheep. If an animal has mange, you can describe it as being (literally) mangy.

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Vocabulary lists containing mange

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

After he was safely trapped, Duke was taken to the wildlife sanctuary to be treated for mange.

From BBC • Sep. 14, 2024

Billy Joel was grateful for her attention to his three-legged black pug; Cher, less so, after her rescue dog was diagnosed with sarcoptic mange, contagious between species.

From New York Times • Jun. 19, 2024

She and colleagues came across dead rabbits and owls and an exam confirmed that one ground squirrel had died after consuming rodenticide, which makes predators such as coyotes and bobcats susceptible to mange.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 18, 2024

That will include a CT scan and evaluations for mange and internal damage from rodenticides, common conditions among Southern California’s urban puma population.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 13, 2022

The blanc mange was lumpy, and the strawberries not as ripe as they looked, having been skilfully ‘deaconed’.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott