rabies

[ rey-beez ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. an infectious disease of dogs, cats, and other animals, transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected animal and usually fatal if prophylactic treatment is not administered: caused by an RNA virus of the rhabdovirus group; hydrophobia.

rabies

/ ˈreɪbiːz; ˌreɪbɪˈɛtɪk; ˈræbɪk /

noun

1. pathol an acute infectious viral disease of the nervous system transmitted by the saliva of infected animals, esp dogs. It is characterized by excessive salivation, aversion to water, convulsions, and paralysis Also calledhydrophobialyssa

rabies

/ rā′bēz /

1. A usually fatal infectious disease of warm-blooded animals caused by a virus of the genus Lyssavirus that causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. It is transmitted by the bite of an infected animal, such as a dog or bat and can be prevented in humans by a vaccine.
2. See Note at hydrophobia

rabies

1. An acute disease , caused by a virus , which attacks the central nervous system and results in paralysis and death if not treated promptly. Rabies is transmitted to humans by the bite of an animal infected with the disease.

Derived Forms

• rabic, adjective

Other Words From

• rab·ic [rab, -ik, rey, -bik], adjective
• anti·rabies adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rabies¹

First recorded in 1655–65; from Latin rabiēs “rage, madness,” from rab(ere) “to be mad, rave” + iēs, abstract noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of rabies¹

C17: from Latin: madness, from rabere to rave

Example Sentences

A DEC statement said an investigation had been launched after receiving "multiple reports from the public about the potentially unsafe housing of wildlife that could carry rabies and the illegal keeping of wildlife as pets".

From BBC

A child in the Canadian province of Ontario has died from rabies after being exposed to a bat in their bedroom, Canadian health officials have said.

From BBC

According to a spokesperson for the agency, the cat did not have rabies, mange or any “obvious internal organ abnormalities to indicate illness.”

From Los Angeles Times

Such attacks on humans are extremely rare and most involve wolves infected with rabies, a viral disease that affects the central nervous system.

From BBC

She runs a Facebook group of about 25,000 cat lovers and says the introduction of mandatory rabies vaccinations is a good thing but queries how it will be achieved in reality.

From BBC