measles

[ mee-zuhlz ]

noun

1. (used with a singular or plural verb) Pathology.
   1. an acute infectious disease occurring mostly in children, characterized by catarrhal and febrile symptoms and an eruption of small red spots; rubeola.
   2. any of certain other eruptive diseases. Compare German measles.
2. Veterinary Pathology. a disease in swine and other animals caused by the larvae of certain tapeworms of the genus Taenia.
3. (used with a plural verb) the larvae that cause measles in swine and other animals, and that upon maturation produce trichinosis in humans.

measles

/ ˈmiːzəlz /

noun

1. a highly contagious viral disease common in children, characterized by fever, profuse nasal discharge of mucus, conjunctivitis, and a rash of small red spots spreading from the forehead down to the limbs Technical namesmorbillirubeola See also German measles
2. a disease of cattle, sheep, and pigs, caused by infestation with tapeworm larvae

measles

/ mē′zəlz /

1. An infectious disease caused by the rubeola virus of the genus Morbillivirus , characterized by fever, cough, and a rash that begins on the face and spreads to other parts of the body. Vaccinations, usually given in early childhood, confer immunity to measles.
2. Also called rubeola

measles

1. An acute and contagious disease caused by a virus and characterized by the outbreak of small red spots on the skin . Measles occurs most often in school-age children. ( Compare German measles .)

Word History and Origins

Origin of measles¹

1275–1325; Middle English mesels, variant of maseles (plural); cognate with Dutch maselen (plural), Middle Dutch masel; akin to German Masern measles, plural of Maser speck

Word History and Origins

Origin of measles¹

C14: from Middle Low German masele spot on the skin; influenced by Middle English mesel leper, from Latin misellus, diminutive of miser wretched

Example Sentences

Ferrari has been analyzing how these disruptions will affect measles outbreaks around the world over the next couple of years.

From Quanta Magazine

From 2000 to 2016, reported measles cases worldwide plunged from 853,479 to 132,490.

From Science News

The pandemic is interrupting measles vaccine programs around the world.

From Vox

In 2019, even before covid-19, vaccine misinformation thrived on the platform as measles outbreaks spread across the US.

From MIT Technology Review

I want to make a vaccine that’s going to be so powerful it is going to be like the measles vaccine, which gives you long-term immunity and a very powerful protection level, you know, 90% to 95%.

From Fortune

A powdered form of the measles vaccine could make delivery safer and easier around the world.

From The Daily Beast

The current FDA-approved measles vaccine consists of live but weakened measles virus that is injected into the arm.

From The Daily Beast

So the new inhaled powder measles vaccine may in a few years turn out to be an easier way to protect kids from measles.

From The Daily Beast

From 1962-1965, there was a worldwide epidemic of rubella, the so-called “German measles.”

From The Daily Beast

Meanwhile, the last outbreak of measles in Mississippi was reported in 1992, according to the state department of health.

From The Daily Beast

Scarlet fever is frequently accompanied by eosinophilia, which may help to distinguish it from measles.

From Project Gutenberg

On their perilous journey an attack of measles increased their discomforts.

From Project Gutenberg

First love is merely the more picturesque successor of measles and whooping-cough.

From Project Gutenberg

Insist upon keeping a scarlet fever or measles patient out of school until all scaling has ceased.

From Project Gutenberg

Chickenpox is almost a harmless disease, but it is more infectious than even measles.

From Project Gutenberg