catarrh

[ kuh-tahr ]

noun

1. Pathology. inflammation of a mucous membrane, especially of the respiratory tract, accompanied by excessive secretions.

catarrh

/ kəˈtɑː /

noun

1. inflammation of a mucous membrane with increased production of mucus, esp affecting the nose and throat in the common cold
2. the mucus so formed

Derived Forms

• caˈtarrhal, adjective

Other Words From

• ca·tarrhal ca·tarrhous adjective
• ca·tarrhal·ly adverb
• nonca·tarrhal adjective
• postca·tarrhal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of catarrh¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin catarrhus < Greek katárrous literally, down-flowing, equivalent to katarr ( eîn ) to flow down ( kata- cata- + rheîn to flow) + -ous, variant of -eos (theme vowel + adj. suffix)

Word History and Origins

Origin of catarrh¹

C16: via French from Late Latin catarrhus, from Greek katarrous, from katarrhein to flow down, from kata- down + rhein to flow

Example Sentences

Palmieri died of “bronchial catarrh” in Naples in 1896, at age 89, shortly after holding a last lecture on the moon’s influence on eruptions—a subject that is still studied today.

From Scientific American

In another, he referred to Welsh signage in supermarkets as "incomprehensible" and described it as "a dead language that sounds uncannily like someone with bad catarrh clearing his throat".

From BBC

In earlier flu epidemics, the disease was described as the “Russian illness” in Germany and Italy, and “Chinese catarrh” in Russia.

From The Guardian

We should suppose in time of general catarrh, the whole empire of Japan would be covered with bits of paper blowing about.

From Scientific American

Though it was summer and the leaves heavy on the trees, people went about the streets coughing as if it were the catarrh season.

From Literature