smallpox

[ smawl-poks ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. an acute, highly contagious, febrile disease, caused by the variola virus, and characterized by a pustular eruption that often leaves permanent pits or scars: eradicated worldwide by vaccination programs.

smallpox

/ ˈsmɔːlˌpɒks /

noun

1. an acute highly contagious viral disease characterized by high fever, severe prostration, and a pinkish rash changing in form from papules to pustules, which dry up and form scabs that are cast off, leaving pitted depressions Technical namevariola variolous

smallpox

/ smôl′pŏks′ /

1. A highly infectious and often fatal disease caused by the variola virus of the genus Orthopoxvirus and characterized by fever, headache, and severely inflamed skin sores that result in extensive scarring. Once a dreaded killer of children that caused the deaths of millions of Native Americans after the arrival of European settlers in the Americas, smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980 following a worldwide vaccination campaign. Samples of the virus have been preserved in laboratories in the United States and Russia.
2. Also called variola
3. See Note at Jenner

smallpox

1. An acute and infectious disease caused by a virus and now almost completely eradicated. Smallpox was characterized by high fever and large sores on the body that leave scars.

Notes

Today, the smallpox virus exists only in laboratories.

A surface with many blemishes is sometimes said to be “pockmarked” because it resembles the skin of a smallpox sufferer.

The use of smallpox is a major concern in the area of bioterrorism (see also bioterrorism ).

Smallpox is the first disease of humans to be completely eradicated by a worldwide campaign of inoculation .

Word History and Origins

Origin of smallpox¹

First recorded in 1510–20; small + pox

Word History and Origins

Origin of smallpox¹

C16: from small + pox . So called to distinguish it from the Great Pox, an archaic name for syphilis

Example Sentences

The vast majority of health experts champion inoculations for their long history of success - guarding against dangerous diseases and even eradicating deadly smallpox.

From BBC

This is the first time she, like many others here, have encountered mpox, which is caused by a virus in the same family as smallpox.

From BBC

There are still no mpox-specific vaccines but smallpox ones work against the disease - and are being manufactured by two pharmaceutical companies.

From BBC

Mpox is caused by a virus in the same family as smallpox but is usually much less harmful.

From BBC

Mpox belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox but causes milder symptoms such as fever, chills and body aches.

From Los Angeles Times