vaccinia

[ vak-sin-ee-uh ]

/ vækˈsɪn i ə /

noun

a variant of the cowpox virus that became established in vaccines derived from cowpox-inoculated humans.

Pathology. an acute infection caused by inoculation with vaccinia virus as a prophylactic against smallpox, characterized by localized pustular eruptions.

Nearby words

vaccinator, vaccine, vaccine lymph, vaccine point, vaccinee, vaccinia, vaccinia virus, vacciniform, vaccinization, vaccinology, vachel

Origin of vaccinia

From New Latin, dating back to 1800–10; see origin at vaccine, -ia

Related forms

vac·cin·i·al, adjective

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

Examples from the Web for vaccinia

For example, vaccinia immune globulin, or VIG, is stored and ready for the next person who becomes ill from smallpox vaccine.
Emory Will Wage High-Tech War on Ebola|Kent Sepkowitz|August 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
By vaccinating a person we inoculate him with vaccinia or cowpox.
Essays In Pastoral Medicine|Austin Malley
The view that vaccinia is attenuated variola is well known, and has been extensively adopted by English physicians.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 421, January 26, 1884|Various

British Dictionary definitions for vaccinia

vaccinia

/ (vækˈsɪnɪə) /

noun

a technical name for cowpox

Derived Forms

vaccinial, adjective

Word Origin for vaccinia

C19: New Latin, from Latin vaccīnus of cows

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

Medicine definitions for vaccinia

vaccinia

[ văk-sĭn′ē-ə ]

n.

cowpox

An infection induced in humans by inoculation with the vaccinia virus in order to confer resistance to smallpox; it is usually limited to the site of inoculation.primary reaction

Related forms

vac•cin′i•al adj.