rubella
[roo-bel-uh]
- a usually mild contagious viral disease characterized by fever, mild upper respiratory congestion, and a fine red rash lasting a few days: if contracted by a woman during early pregnancy, it may cause serious damage to the fetus.
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Origin of rubella
Also called German measles.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for rubella
Contemporary Examples
From 1962-1965, there was a worldwide epidemic of rubella, the so-called “German measles.”
It is currently administered as one of the components of the MMR vaccine (along with measles and rubella).
So too with rubella: the U.S. was certified as rubella-free in 2004, meaning that no cases were seen in persons residing here.
Thus the infants likely exposed countless health-care workers to large amounts of rubella virus.
Instead, the concerns reflect the fact that unlike measles or diphtheria or rubella, HPV is not spread by casual contact.
Historical Examples
German measles, or rubella, is a distinct disease and has nothing to do with ordinary measles.
The Care and Feeding of ChildrenL. Emmett Holt
rubella
- a mild contagious viral disease, somewhat similar to measles, characterized by cough, sore throat, skin rash, and occasionally vomiting. It can cause congenital defects if caught during the first three months of pregnancyAlso called: German measles
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Word Origin
C19: from New Latin, from Latin rubellus reddish, from rubeus red
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
Word Origin and History for rubella
n.
"German measles," 1883, Modern Latin, literally "rash," from neuter plural of Latin rubellus "reddish," diminutive of ruber "red" (see red (adj.1)).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
rubella
(rōō-bĕl′ə)- A mild contagious eruptive disease that is caused by the rubella virus and is capable of producing congenital defects in infants born to mothers infected during the first three months of pregnancy.epidemic roseola German measles three-day measles
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
rubella
[rōō-bĕl′ə]
- See German measles.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
rubella
[(rooh-bel-uh)]
See German measles.
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The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.