shingles

noun, plural in form but singular in construction

shin·gles | \ ˈshiŋ-gəlz

How to pronounce shingles (audio)

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Definition of shingles

: an acute viral inflammation of the sensory ganglia of spinal and cranial nerves that is associated with a vesicular eruption and neuralgic pains and is caused by reactivation of the herpesvirus causing chicken pox

— called also herpes zoster, zoster

Examples of shingles in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There are important differences between Shingrix, the shingles vaccine, and the coronavirus vaccines. — David Z. Morris, Fortune, "What could happen if people skip the second dose of the COVID vaccine," 24 Dec. 2020 By comparison, Shingrix, a shingles vaccine for older adults, received FDA approval after a trial of 30,000. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "FDA report is a sign agency likely to OK Pfizer’s COVID vaccine, say San Diego scientists," 8 Dec. 2020 Kelly pointed to the role transparency played in the success of the shingles vaccine, Shingrix, which is also a two-dose series and can cause reactions similar to the COVID vaccines. — Allyson Chiu, Anchorage Daily News, "Mild vaccine side effects are ‘absolutely normal’ and no reason to avoid COVID shots, doctors say," 3 Dec. 2020 Estimates to replace the roof with the same cedar shake shingles, which are authentic to the historical building’s original design, were $14,000, Keithley said. — Carrie Napoleon, chicagotribune.com, "Historical group asks and community responds as work to restore founder of Lowell’s home continues," 26 Nov. 2020 As for more general public acceptance of the vaccines, Weissman notes that the new shingles vaccine, Shingrix, can also cause significant transient reactions. — Meredith Wadman, Science | AAAS, "Fever, aches from Pfizer, Moderna jabs aren’t dangerous but may be intense for some," 18 Nov. 2020 New Orleans trash collectors will begin collecting debris left behind by Hurricane Zeta on Friday, more than a week after the storm blew through the region and tore off roof shingles, tree limbs and power lines. — Jessica Williams | Staff Writer, NOLA.com, "New Orleans to pick up debris from Hurricane Zeta on Friday; see the list of what's eligible," 5 Nov. 2020 Extreme weather can lead to hefty repair costs if high winds send too many shingles flying and expose the roof to the elements. — Popular Science, "The 8 most helpful new home products of 2020," 3 Dec. 2020 Extreme weather can lead to hefty repair costs if high winds send too many shingles flying and expose the roof to the elements. — Popular Science, "The 100 greatest innovations of 2020," 1 Dec. 2020

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

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Last Updated

8 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Shingles.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shingles. Accessed 16 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for shingles

shingles

noun

English Language Learners Definition of shingles

medical : a disease that causes pain and red marks on your skin along the path of a nerve

shingles

noun plural but singular in construction

shin·gles | \ ˈshiŋ-gəlz

\

Medical Definition of shingles

: an acute viral inflammation of the sensory ganglia of spinal and cranial nerves associated with a vesicular eruption and neuralgic pain and caused by reactivation of the herpesvirus causing chicken pox

— called also herpes zoster, zona, zoster

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