trachoma

[ truh-koh-muh ]

nounOphthalmology.

a chronic, contagious infection of the conjunctiva and cornea, characterized by the formation of granulations and scarring and caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.

Origin of trachoma

1685–95; <Greek trā́chōma roughness, equivalent to trāch(ýs) rough + -ōma-oma

Other words from trachoma

tra·chom·a·tous [truh-kom-uh-tuhs, -koh-muh-], /trəˈkɒm ə təs, -ˈkoʊ mə-/, adjective

Words Nearby trachoma

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use trachoma in a sentence

This is an operation for the removal of follicular formations in the conjunctiva, and is used more especially in trachoma.
A System of Operative Surgery, Volume IV (of 4) | Various
The disease sometimes lasts for years without causing trachoma.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 1 | Various
trachoma, a virulent form of conjunctivitis, is a communicable eye disease which must be carefully safeguarded.
Five Lectures on Blindness | Kate M. Foley
Many of these cases are out-and-out trachoma, others acute conjunctivitis, and a larger proportion are "mild trachoma."
Civics and Health | William H. Allen
Two other "catching" diseases cause city schools a great deal of trouble,—trachoma and pediculosis (head lice).
Civics and Health | William H. Allen

British Dictionary definitions for trachoma

trachoma

/ (trəˈkəʊmə) /

noun

a chronic contagious disease of the eye characterized by inflammation of the conjunctiva and cornea and the formation of scar tissue, caused by infection with the virus-like bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis

Origin of trachoma

C17: from New Latin, from Greek trakhōma roughness, from trakhus rough

Derived forms of trachoma

trachomatous (trəˈkɒmətəs, -ˈkəʊ-), adjective

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

Scientific definitions for trachoma

trachoma

[ trə-kō′mə ]

A contagious disease of the conjunctiva and cornea, caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis and characterized by granules of inflammatory tissue. It is a major cause of blindness in Asia and Africa.

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