German measles

noun

plural in form but singular or plural in construction

: an acute contagious viral disease that is caused by a single-stranded RNA virus (Rubivirus rubellae) and is milder than typical measles but is damaging to the fetus when occurring early in pregnancy : rubella

Word History

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for German measles

• diesels
• easels
• weasels

Kids Definition

German measles

singular or plural noun

: a contagious virus disease that is like the usual kind of measles but is milder and that may cause birth defects or the death of the fetus when it occurs in a pregnant woman

called also rubella

Medical Definition

German measles

noun, plural in form but singular or plural in construction

: an acute contagious disease that is milder than typical measles but is damaging to the fetus when occurring early in pregnancy and that is caused by a matonavirus (Rubivirus rubellae) : rubella