measles

noun, plural in form but singular or plural in construction mea·sles \ ˈmē-zəlz \

|Updated on: 3 Jun 2018

Definition of measles

1 a : an acute contagious disease that is caused by a morbillivirus (species Measles virus) and is marked especially by an eruption of distinct red circular spots — called also rubeola

b : any of various eruptive diseases (such as German measles)

[Middle English mesel infested with tapeworms, literally, leprous, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin misellus leper, from Latin, wretch, from misellus, diminutive of miser miserable]

: infestation with or disease caused by larval tapeworms in the muscles and tissues

Recent Examples of measles from the Web

The case is not related to another measles case that was reported in early April, health officials said.

— maria clark, NOLA.com, "Second measles cases confirmed in New Orleans, health officials say," 11 May 2018
The Missouri measles cases are not related to an outbreak that started in March in a Johnson County daycare and has sickened at least 22 people in several Kansas counties.

— andy marso, kansascity, "Missouri measles outbreak up to 13 cases as more exposed at Walmart, medical clinic | The Kansas City Star," 4 May 2018
Italy’s measles cases were second only to Romania’s 5,562 cases, and the two together accounted for half the measles cases in Europe last year.

— Washington Post, "Italy’s vaccine debate shows anti-establishment sway," 6 Mar. 2018
The second measles patient is under care in a New Orleans hospital.

— maria clark, NOLA.com, "Second measles cases confirmed in New Orleans, health officials say," 11 May 2018
School nursing supervisor Marie Bordonaro wrote to parents to say the measles vaccine is very effective, if their children have been vaccinated.

— bill leukhardt, Courant Community, "Measles Confirmed In Southington Elementary School," 3 May 2018
The Missouri and Kansas City health departments provided no specific information on that measles patient or a second recent patient.

— lynn horsley, kansascity, "Nebraska Furniture Mart now on list of measles exposure sites. JoCo victims up to 15 | The Kansas City Star," 19 Apr. 2018
Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of getting infected during international travel.

— maria clark, NOLA.com, "Health officials notifying people who may have had contact with measles patient: WVUE-Fox 8," 12 Apr. 2018
The Michigan measles patient was hospitalized and is now recovering.

— USA TODAY, "Travelers who landed in Detroit, Newark, Memphis pop up with measles," 14 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of measles

Middle English meseles, plural of mesel measles, spot characteristic of measles; akin to Middle Dutch masel spot characteristic of measles

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

MEASLES Defined for English Language Learners

measles

noun

Definition of measles for English Language Learners

: a disease that causes a fever and red spots on the skin

MEASLES Defined for Kids

measles

noun mea·sles \ ˈmē-zəlz \

Definition of measles for Students

1 : a contagious disease in which there are fever and red spots on the skin

2 : any of several diseases (as German measles ) resembling true measles

Medical Dictionary

measles

noun plural but singular or plural in construction mea·sles \ ˈmē-zəlz \

medical Definition of measles

1 a : an acute contagious disease that is caused by a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus (species Measles virus), that commences with catarrhal symptoms, conjunctivitis, cough, and Koplik's spots on the oral mucous membrane, and that is marked by the appearance on the third or fourth day of an eruption of distinct red circular spots which coalesce in a crescentic form, are slightly raised, and after the fourth day of the eruption gradually decline — called also rubeola

b : any of various eruptive diseases (as German measles)

2 : infestation with or disease caused by larval tapeworms in the muscles and tissues; specifically : infestation of cattle and swine with cysticerci of tapeworms that as adults parasitize humans — compare measle