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rabies

noun ra·bies \ ˈrā-bēz \
|Updated on: 10 Jul 2018

Definition of rabies

plural rabies
: an acute virus disease of the nervous system of mammals that is caused by a rhabdovirus (species Rabies virus of the genus Lyssavirus) usually transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal and that is characterized typically by increased salivation, abnormal behavior, and eventual paralysis and death when untreated

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See rabies defined for kids

Recent Examples of rabies from the Web

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

Origin and Etymology of rabies

New Latin, from Latin, madness, from rabere to rave — more at rage

RABIES Defined for English Language Learners

rabies

noun

Definition of rabies for English Language Learners

  • : a very serious and often fatal disease that affects animals (such as dogs) and that can be passed on to people if an infected animal bites them

RABIES Defined for Kids

rabies

noun ra·bies \ ˈrā-bēz \

Definition of rabies for Students

: a deadly disease of the nervous system that affects animals and can be passed on to people by the bite of an infected animal

Medical Dictionary

rabies

noun ra·bies \ ˈrā-bēz \

medical Definition of rabies

plural rabies
: an acute virus disease of the central nervous system of warm-blooded animals that is transmitted in infected saliva usually through the bite of a rabid animal and that is typically characterized by fatigue, headache, fever, and general discomfort progressing to increased salivation, excitability, confusion, muscle weakness and spasms, hallucinations, abnormal behavior, paralysis, coma, and death
Note: Rabies has a long incubation period that averages several weeks but may be as long as several years. Once the symptoms appear, rabies is typically untreatable and fatal. If received soon after the bite of a rabid animal, treatment is usually effective and involves administration of immune globulin and a series of rabies vaccine injections. Rabies is caused by a rhabdovirus (species Rabies virus of the genus Lyssavirus.
— called also hydrophobia

Learn More about rabies

  1. See words that rhyme with rabies Spanish Central: Translation of rabies Nglish: Translation of rabies for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of rabies for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rabies

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