diphtheria

diph·the·ria

noun \dif-ˈthir-ē-ə, ÷dip-\

Definition of DIPHTHERIA

: an acute febrile contagious disease typically marked by the formation of a false membrane especially in the throat and caused by a gram-positive bacterium (Corynebacterium diphtheriae) that produces a toxin causing inflammation of the heart and nervous system

— diph·the·ri·al \-ē-əl\ adjective

— diph·the·rit·ic \ˌdif-thə-ˈri-tik, ÷ˌdip-\ adjective

Origin of DIPHTHERIA

New Latin, from French diphthérie, from Greek diphthera leather; from the toughness of the false membrane

First Known Use: circa 1851

Rhymes with DIPHTHERIA

Algeria, Assyria, asteria, bacteria, Egeria, Elyria, Iberia, Illyria, Liberia, Nigeria, plumeria, porphyria, Siberia, wisteria