Definition of anthrax
: an infectious disease of warm-blooded animals (such as cattle and sheep) caused by a spore-forming bacterium (Bacillus anthracis), transmissible to humans especially by the handling of infected products (such as wool), and characterized by cutaneous ulcerating nodules or by often fatal lesions in the lungs; also : the bacterium causing anthrax
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Recent Examples of anthrax from the Web
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The National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases — a branch of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that fights threats like anthrax and Ebola — would be cut by $65 million, or 11 percent.
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And a co-worker’s lesion, deemed troublesome on Wednesday, also has tested negative for anthrax.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'anthrax'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of anthrax
Middle English antrax carbuncle, from Latin anthrax, from Greek, coal, carbuncle
First Known Use: 1861
ANTHRAX Defined for English Language Learners
anthrax
playDefinition of anthrax for English Language Learners
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: a serious disease that affects animals (such as cattle and sheep) and sometimes people
ANTHRAX Defined for Kids
anthrax
playDefinition of anthrax for Students
: a serious bacterial disease of warm-blooded animals (as sheep) that can affect humans
Medical Dictionary
anthrax
playMedical Definition of anthrax
anthraces
\-thrə-ˌsēz\play: an infectious disease of warm-blooded animals (as cattle and sheep) caused by a spore-forming bacterium (Bacillus anthracis), transmissible to humans especially by the handling of infected products (as hair), and characterized by cutaneous ulcerating nodules or by often fatal lesions in the lungs; also : the bacterium causing anthrax
Learn More about anthrax
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See words that rhyme with anthrax Britannica English: Translation of anthrax for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about anthrax
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