pox
Americannoun
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a disease characterized by multiple skin pustules, as smallpox.
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Also called soil rot. Plant Pathology. a disease of sweet potatoes, characterized by numerous pitlike lesions on the roots, caused by a fungus, Streptomyces ipomoea.
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(used as an interjection to express distaste, rejection, aversion, etc.).
A pox on you and your bright ideas!
noun
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any disease characterized by the formation of pustules on the skin that often leave pockmarks when healed
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an informal name for syphilis
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archaic (interjection) an expression of intense disgust or aversion for someone
Etymology
Origin of pox
1540–50 (earlier as surname); spelling variant of pocks, plural of pock
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.
“None of them know about the list. They’ve survived things like broken arms and chicken pox and minor car accidents and . . .” Chip gave Jonah a sidelong look, “. . . being adopted.”
From Literature
Mama said something about scarlet fever, Daddy said something else about mumps or chicken pox, Mama was calling the doctor, Daddy was wrapping me up in a blanket and putting me in the truck.
From Literature
It was chicken pox, and before you could say “Speed and Safety Award assembly” there wasn’t anybody left to go to it.
From Literature
"It will also prevent serious consequences if the child does go on to develop chicken pox and it really reduces the likelihood of hospital admission and any other serious consequences," she said.
From BBC
When someone gets chicken pox, usually in childhood, the virus does not fully leave the body.
From Science Daily
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
