chorea

noun cho·rea \ kə-ˈrē-ə \

Definition of chorea

: a movement disorder marked by involuntary spasmodic movements especially of the limbs and facial muscles and typically symptomatic of neurological dysfunction (such as that associated with a neurodegenerative disease or metabolic disturbance) — see Huntington's disease

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choreic

play \-ˈrē-ik\ adjective

Recent Examples of chorea from the Web

Medical concerns facing the midwives will include everything from breech birth to cancer, Huntington's chorea, and cataracts.

— caroline hallemann, Town & Country, "Call the Midwife," 12 Mar. 2018
Six months later, doctors diagnosed Huntington’s chorea.

— Longreads, "How Does It Feel? An Alternative American History, Told With Folk Music," 26 Oct. 2017
He had been admitted with Huntington’s chorea after his family could no longer take care of him.

— randall fuller, WSJ, "Raging Against the Machine," 28 July 2017
San Diego’s Auspex Pharmaceuticals developed a drug to manage Huntington’s chorea, the uncontrollable movements associated with the disease.

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Pope Francis to meet with Huntington's disease patients, including University of San Diego Latin American scholar," 8 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chorea.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of chorea

New Latin, from Latin, dance, from Greek choreia, from choros chorus

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1804

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

chorea

noun cho·rea \ kə-ˈrē-ə \

medical Definition of chorea

: a movement disorder marked by involuntary spasmodic movements especially of the limbs and facial muscles and typically symptomatic of neurological dysfunction (as that associated with a neurodegenerative disease or metabolic disturbance) — see huntington's disease, sydenham's chorea

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