Main Entry:

SARS

Pronunciation:

\ˈsärz\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

severe acute respiratory syndrome

Date:

2003

: a severe respiratory illness that is caused by a coronavirus (species Severe acute respiratory syndrome virus of the genus Coronavirus), is transmitted especially by contact with infectious material (as respiratory droplets or body fluids), and is characterized by fever, headache, body aches, a dry cough, hypoxia, and usually pneumonia