Main Entry:

di·ar·rhea

Pronunciation:

\ˌdī-ə-ˈrē-ə\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English diaria, from Late Latin diarrhoea, from Greek diarrhoia, from diarrhein to flow through, from dia- + rhein to flow — more at stream

Date:

14th century

1 : abnormally frequent intestinal evacuations with more or less fluid stools 2 : excessive flow <verbal diarrhea>

— di·ar·rhe·al \-ˈrē-əl\ adjective

— di·ar·rhe·ic \-ˈrē-ik\ adjective

— di·ar·rhet·ic \-ˈre-tik\ adjective