pellagra

[ puh-lag-ruh, -ley-gruh, -lah- ]
/ pəˈlæg rə, -ˈleɪ grə, -ˈlɑ- /

noun Pathology.

a disease caused by a deficiency of niacin in the diet, characterized by skin changes, severe nerve dysfunction, mental symptoms, and diarrhea.

QUIZZES

TAKE THIS QUIZ TO SEE WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT 2ND-3RD GRADE VOCAB FROM BOOKS!

Are you learning new vocabulary? Or do you just have an interest in words? Either way, this quiz is for you.
Question 1 of 10
orchard
body of land completely surrounded by water
group of cultivated fruit trees
long mournful cry
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of pellagra

1805–15; < Italian < New Latin: skin disease, equivalent to pell(is) skin + -agra < Greek ágra seizure

OTHER WORDS FROM pellagra

pel·la·grose, pel·la·grous, adjective

Words nearby pellagra

pelisse, pelite, pelizaeus-merzbacher disease, pell-mell, pella, pellagra, pellagra-preventive factor, pellagrin, pellan, pellegrini's disease, pellekar
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for pellagra

British Dictionary definitions for pellagra

pellagra
/ (pəˈleɪɡrə, -ˈlæ-) /

noun

pathol a disease caused by a dietary deficiency of nicotinic acid, characterized by burning or itching often followed by scaling of the skin, inflammation of the mouth, diarrhoea, mental impairment, etc

Derived forms of pellagra

pellagrous, adjective

Word Origin for pellagra

C19: via Italian from pelle skin + -agra, from Greek agra paroxysm
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

Medical definitions for pellagra

pellagra
[ pə-lăg′rə, -lā′grə, -lä′- ]

n.

A disease caused by a deficiency of niacin and protein in the diet and characterized by skin eruptions, digestive and nervous system disturbances, and eventual mental deterioration.

Other words from pellagra

pel•lag′rous adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for pellagra

pellagra
[ pə-lăg′rə, -lā′grə ]

A disease caused by a lack of niacin in the diet, characterized by skin and digestive disorders and mental deterioration.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.