hepatitis

[ hep-uh-tahy-tis ]

nounPathology.
  1. inflammation of the liver, caused by a virus or a toxin and characterized by jaundice, liver enlargement, and fever.

Origin of hepatitis

1
From the Greek word hēpatîtis, dating back to 1720–30. See hepat-, -itis

Words Nearby hepatitis

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use hepatitis in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hepatitis

hepatitis

/ (ˌhɛpəˈtaɪtɪs) /


noun
  1. inflammation of the liver, characterized by fever, jaundice, and weakness: See hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C

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

Scientific definitions for hepatitis

hepatitis

[ hĕp′ə-tītĭs ]


  1. Inflammation of the liver, usually caused by any of various infectious agents or toxins, including alcohol and numerous chemical compounds. Symptoms usually include jaundice, fatigue, fever, liver enlargement, and abdominal pain. There are five types of viral hepatitis: A, B,C, D, and E. Hepatitis A, an acute infection caused by a virus of the genus Hepatovirus is transmitted by contaminated food and water. Hepatitis B, caused by a virus of the genus Orthohepadnavirus and Hepatitis C, caused by a virus of the genus Hepacivirus, are more serious infections that are transmitted through infected bodily fluids such as blood and semen.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for hepatitis

hepatitis

[ (hep-uh-teye-tis) ]


An inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis is most often caused by a virus, but it can be the result of exposure to certain toxic agents, such as drugs or chemicals. One viral form of the disease is spread by contaminated food and water, and other forms by contaminated injection needles and blood transfusions. Symptoms of hepatitis include fever and jaundice.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.