miasma
About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.
About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.mi·as·ma
noun \mī-ˈaz-mə, mē-\ plural mi·as·mas also mi·as·ma·ta \-mə-tə\
Definition of MIASMA
1
: a vaporous exhalation formerly believed to cause disease; also : a heavy vaporous emanation or atmosphere <a miasma of tobacco smoke>
2
: an influence or atmosphere that tends to deplete or corrupt <freed from the miasma of poverty — Sir Arthur Bryant>; also : an atmosphere that obscures : fog
— mi·as·mal \-məl\ adjective
— mi·as·mat·ic \ˌmī-əz-ˈma-tik\ adjective
— mi·as·mic \mī-ˈaz-mik, mē-\ adjective
— mi·as·mi·cal·ly \-mi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
See Origin of MIASMA
New Latin, from Greek, defilement, from miainein to pollute
First Known Use: 1665
Other Medicine Terms
mi·as·ma
noun \mī-ˈaz-mə, mē-\ (Medical Dictionary)plural ; mi·as·masalso ; mi·as·ma·ta \-mət-ə\ (audio pronunciation)
Medical Definition of MIASMA
: a vaporous exhalation (as of a marshy region or of putrescent matter) formerly believed to cause disease (as malaria)
—mi·as·mal \-məl\ (audio pronunciation) adjective
—mi·as·mat·ic \ˌmī-əz-ˈmat-ik\ (audio pronunciation) adjective
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