Definition of dengue
: an acute infectious disease caused by a flavivirus (species Dengue virus of the genus Flavivirus), transmitted by aedes mosquitoes, and characterized by headache, severe joint pain, and a rash —called also breakbone fever, dengue fever
People Are Reading
Recent Examples of dengue from the Web
-
Current tests are unreliable in identifying Zika among patients previously infected with related viruses, such as dengue.
-
This 4-millimeter-long insect is responsible not only for the Zika outbreak but also for transmitting yellow fever and two other excruciating diseases, dengue and chikungunya, that are currently inching their way toward the US.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dengue'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of dengue
American Spanish
First Known Use: 1828
Medical Dictionary
Medical Definition of dengue
: an acute infectious disease that is characterized by headache, severe joint pain, and a rash and that is caused by a single-stranded RNA virus of the genus Flavivirus (species Dengue virus) transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes—called also breakbone fever, dandy fever, dengue fever
Learn More about dengue
-
See words that rhyme with dengue Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dengue
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up dengue? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!