disease

dis·ease

noun \di-ˈzēz\

Definition of DISEASE

1

obsolete : trouble

2

: a condition of the living animal or plant body or of one of its parts that impairs normal functioning and is typically manifested by distinguishing signs and symptoms : sickness, malady

3

: a harmful development (as in a social institution)

— dis·eased \-ˈzēzd\ adjective

Examples of DISEASE

1. He suffers from a rare genetic disease.
2. a disease of the mind
3. Thousands die of heart disease each year.
4. They are working to stop the spread of disease in rural areas.
5. The article cites intolerance as one of the most dangerous of society's diseases.
6. He sees crime as a disease that too often plagues the poor and disadvantaged.

Origin of DISEASE

Middle English disese, from Anglo-French desease, desaise, from des- dis- + eise ease

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to DISEASE

Synonyms

affection, ail, ailment, bug, complaint, complication, condition, disorder, distemper, distemperature, fever, ill, illness, infirmity, malady, sickness, trouble

Antonyms

health, wellness

Related Words

contagion, contagious disease; contagium, infection; attack, bout, fit, spell; debility, decrepitude, feebleness, frailness, lameness, sickliness, unhealthiness, unsoundness, unwellness, weakness; malaise, matter, pip; epidemic, pest, pestilence, plague

Near Antonyms

fitness, healthiness, heartiness, robustness, soundness, wholeness, wholesomeness; fettle, shape

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

dis·ease

noun \diz-ˈēz\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of DISEASE

: an impairment of the normal state of the living animal or plant body or one of its parts that interrupts or modifies the performance of the vital functions, is typically manifested by distinguishing signs and symptoms, and is a response to environmental factors (as malnutrition, industrial hazards, or climate), to specific infective agents (as worms, bacteria, or viruses), to inherent defects of the organism (as genetic anomalies), or to combinations of these factors : sickness, illness—called also morbus; compare health 1

—dis·eased \-ˈēzd\ (audio pronunciation) adjective