- Main Entry:
- in·flu·en·za
- Pronunciation:
-
\ˌin-(ˌ)flü-ˈen-zə\
- Function:
- noun
- Etymology:
- Italian, literally, influence, from Medieval Latin influentia; from the belief that epidemics were due to the influence of the stars
- Date:
- 1743
1 a (1): an acute typically severe respiratory disease caused by an orthomyxovirus (species Influenza A virus of the genus Influenzavirus A) and marked by sudden onset, fever, prostration, severe aches and pains, and progressive inflammation of the respiratory mucous membranes—called also influenza A (2): either of two usually milder or even subclinical respiratory diseases caused by two other orthomyxoviruses (species Influenza B virus of the genus Influenzavirus B and species Influenza C virus of the genus Influenzavirus C) —often used with the letter B or C to denote the causative species b: any of various human respiratory infections of undetermined cause —not used technically2: any of numerous febrile usually virus diseases of domestic animals marked by respiratory symptoms, inflammation of mucous membranes, and often systemic involvement
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in·flu·en·zal \-zəl\ adjective
