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Definition of typhus
: any of various bacterial diseases caused by rickettsias: such asa : a severe human febrile disease that is caused by one (Rickettsia prowazekii) transmitted especially by body lice and is marked by high fever, stupor alternating with delirium, intense headache, and a dark red rashb : murine typhusc : scrub typhus
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Recent Examples of typhus from the Web
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But the most painful and powerful memories were of her mother Yvonne, her lifelong inspiration, dying slowly of typhus in Belsen after a 45-mile death march at the war’s end.
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Diseases including smallpox, typhus and pneumonia killed nearly eight percent of the prison population.
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But whereas body lice can spread diseases, including epidemic typhus, trench fever and even the plague, head lice have never been blamed for any such outbreak.
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Frank died of typhus in early 1945 at Bergen-Belsen, a Nazi concentration camp.
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Or they were infected with typhus, with terrible results.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'typhus'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of typhus
New Latin, from Greek typhos fever; akin to Greek typhein to smoke — more at deaf
TYPHUS Defined for English Language Learners
typhus
playDefinition of typhus for English Language Learners
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medical : a serious disease that is carried by small insects that live on the bodies of people and animals and that causes high fever, headache, and a dark red rash
TYPHUS Defined for Kids
typhus
playDefinition of typhus for Students
: a disease spread especially by body lice and in which there is high fever, delirium, severe headache, and a dark red rash
Medical Dictionary
typhus
playMedical Definition of typhus
: any of various bacterial diseases caused by rickettsial bacteria: asa: a severe human febrile disease that is caused by one (Rickettsia prowazekii) transmitted especially by body lice and is marked by high fever, stupor alternating with delirium, intense headache, and a dark red rash—called also louse-borne typhusb: murine typhusc: scrub typhus
Learn More about typhus
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Spanish Central: Translation of typhus Nglish: Translation of typhus for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of typhus for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about typhus
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