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typhus
[ tahy-fuhs ]
/ ˈtaɪ fəs /
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noun Pathology.
an acute, infectious disease caused by several species of Rickettsia, transmitted by lice and fleas, and characterized by acute prostration, headache, and a peculiar eruption of reddish spots on the body.
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Also called typhus fever.
Origin of typhus
1635–45; <New Latin <Greek tŷphos vapor
OTHER WORDS FROM typhus
typhous, adjectiveWords nearby typhus
typhoid fever, typhoidin, Typhoid Mary, typhon, typhoon, typhus, typical, typically, typicon, typify, typing
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use typhus in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for typhus
typhus
/ (ˈtaɪfəs) /
noun
any one of a group of acute infectious rickettsial diseases characterized by high fever, skin rash, and severe headacheAlso called: typhus fever
Derived forms of typhus
typhous, adjectiveWord Origin for typhus
C18: from New Latin tӯphus, from Greek tuphos fever; related to tuphein to smoke
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 typhus
typhus
[ tī′fəs ]
Any of several forms of an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Rickettsia transmitted by fleas, mites, or especially lice, and characterized by severe headache, high fever, and skin rash. Louse-born bacteria that cause typhus are especially virulent and can cause epidemics of the disease, which may be fatal in people with weakened immune systems.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for typhus
typhus
[ (teye-fuhs) ]
A group of acute and contagious diseases, often fatal, marked by severe headaches and high fever. Typhus is transmitted to humans by fleas, lice, or mites that are infected with the microorganism that causes the disease.
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.