mumps

[ muhmps ]

noun

, (used with a singular verb)

1. an infectious disease characterized by inflammatory swelling of the parotid and usually other salivary glands, and sometimes by inflammation of the testes or ovaries, caused by a paramyxovirus.

mumps

/ mʌmps /

noun

1. functioning as singular or plural an acute contagious viral disease of the parotid salivary glands, characterized by swelling of the affected parts, fever, and pain beneath the ear: usually affects children Also calledepidemic parotitis

mumps

/ mŭmps /

1. An infectious disease caused by a virus of the family Paramyxoviridae and the genus Rubulavirus , characterized by swelling of the salivary glands, especially the parotid glands, and sometimes of the pancreas, testes, or ovaries. Vaccinations, usually given in early childhood, confer immunity to mumps.

mumps

1. An acute and contagious disease marked by fever and inflammation of the salivary glands . Caused by a virus , mumps is normally a childhood disease that passes with no aftereffects.

Notes

A child who has had mumps is immune from further infection by the mumps virus.

Derived Forms

• ˈmumpish, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mumps¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; mump ¹ + -s ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of mumps¹

C16: from mump ¹(to grimace)

Example Sentences

Uptake of the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella, has improved in many areas since a spate of outbreaks last year - but health experts say there is still ground to make up.

From BBC

People serving with the German military, the Bundeswehr, are required to get vaccinations against a number of diseases — including measles, mumps and flu — so long as individuals have no specific health issues to prevent that.

From Seattle Times

At the beginning of the pandemic, many people hoped that infections with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 — or vaccines against the virus — would provide durable lifetime immunity, as is the case with diseases like measles or mumps.

From Salon

“Eureka Day” predates the pandemic — it was first staged in 2018 in Berkeley, Calif., where it takes place, and the disease at issue is mumps, not Covid.

From New York Times

"Two doses of the MMR vaccine are needed to get life-long protection against measles, mumps and rubella."

From BBC