tristeza

noun

tris·​te·​za tri-ˈstā-zə How to pronounce tristeza (audio)
: a highly infectious disease of citrus trees grafted on sour orange rootstocks that is caused by a single-stranded RNA virus (species Citrus tristeza virus of the genus Closterovirus, family Closteroviridae) transmitted by aphids and that eventually causes death of the trees

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese, literally, sadness, from Latin tristitia, from tristis sad

First Known Use

circa 1902, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tristeza was circa 1902

Dictionary Entries Near tristeza

Cite this Entry

“Tristeza.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tristeza. Accessed 25 Mar. 2023.

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