rubella

[roo-bel-uh]

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.

Nearby words

Origin of rubella

1880–85; < New Latin, noun use of neuter plural of Latin rubellus reddish, derivative of ruber red¹; for formation see castellum

Also called German measles.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for rubella

From 1962-1965, there was a worldwide epidemic of rubella, the so-called “German measles.”
Heed the Warnings: Why We’re on the Brink of Mass Extinction|Sean B. Carroll|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is currently administered as one of the components of the MMR vaccine (along with measles and rubella).
Thanks to Anti-Vaxxers, Mumps Are Back. What’s Next?|Russell Saunders|March 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So too with rubella: the U.S. was certified as rubella-free in 2004, meaning that no cases were seen in persons residing here.
Why Rubella’s Scary Comeback Should Convince Vaccine Deniers|Kent Sepkowitz|March 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Thus the infants likely exposed countless health-care workers to large amounts of rubella virus.
Why Rubella’s Scary Comeback Should Convince Vaccine Deniers|Kent Sepkowitz|March 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Instead, the concerns reflect the fact that unlike measles or diphtheria or rubella, HPV is not spread by casual contact.
HPV Vaccine's Tricky Ethics|Sharon Begley|September 14, 2011|DAILY BEAST
German measles, or rubella, is a distinct disease and has nothing to do with ordinary measles.
The Care and Feeding of Children|L. Emmett Holt

British Dictionary definitions for rubella

rubella

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

Word Origin and History for rubella

rubella

"German measles," 1883, Modern Latin, literally "rash," from neuter plural of Latin rubellus "reddish," diminutive of ruber "red" (see red (adj.1)).

Medicine 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

Science definitions for rubella

rubella

[rōō-bĕl′ə]

See German measles.

Culture definitions for rubella

rubella

[(rooh-bel-uh)]

See German measles.