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rubella

[ roo-bel-uh ]
/ ruˈbɛl ə /

noun Pathology.

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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Also called German measles.

Origin of rubella

1880–85; <New Latin, noun use of neuter plural of Latin rubellus reddish, derivative of ruberred1; for formation see castellum

Words nearby rubella

rubefacient, rubefaction, rubefy, Rube Goldberg, rub elbows with, rubella, rubella HI test, rubella virus, rubella virus vaccine, rubellite, Ruben
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for rubella

British Dictionary definitions for rubella

rubella
/ (ruːˈbɛlə) /

noun

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

Word Origin for rubella

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

Medical definitions for rubella

rubella
[ rōō-bĕl′ə ]

n.

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
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for rubella

rubella
[ rōō-bĕl′ə ]

See German measles.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for rubella

rubella
[ (rooh-bel-uh) ]

See German measles.

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.