rabies

American  

[rey-beez] / ˈreɪ biz /

noun

Pathology.

1. an infectious disease of dogs, cats, and other animals, transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected animal and usually fatal if prophylactic treatment is not administered: caused by an RNA virus of the rhabdovirus group; hydrophobia.

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rabies British  

/ ˈreɪbiːz, ˌreɪbɪˈɛtɪk, ˈræbɪk /

noun

1. Also called: hydrophobia.   lyssa.  pathol an acute infectious viral disease of the nervous system transmitted by the saliva of infected animals, esp dogs. It is characterized by excessive salivation, aversion to water, convulsions, and paralysis

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rabies Scientific  

/ rā′bēz /

1. A usually fatal infectious disease of warm-blooded animals caused by a virus of the genus Lyssavirus that causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. It is transmitted by the bite of an infected animal, such as a dog or bat and can be prevented in humans by a vaccine.

2. See Note at hydrophobia

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rabies Cultural  

1. An acute disease, caused by a virus, which attacks the central nervous system and results in paralysis and death if not treated promptly. Rabies is transmitted to humans by the bite of an animal infected with the disease.

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Other Word Forms

• antirabies adjective
• rabic adjective

Etymology

Origin of rabies

First recorded in 1655–65; from Latin rabiēs “rage, madness,” from rab(ere) “to be mad, rave” + iēs, abstract noun suffix

Example Sentences

I had never personally encountered rabies so I thought I never would.

From Los Angeles Times

Mystifyingly, “Primate” blames Ben’s terrible temper on rabies, not the more interesting causes of chimpanzee aggression like depression, psychological confusion and over-medication.

From Los Angeles Times

She keeps yammering, “Do you think I should get a rabies shot or something? Just to be safe?”

From Literature

Pathologists will carry out necropsies on the animals, looking for neurological disease like rabies or signs of human DNA.

From Barron's

Illegally imported dogs may also not have been tested for diseases like rabies or brucella canis, which can put animals in the UK, and their owners, at risk.

From BBC