disease

A disease is an illness or sickness with specific, well-defined symptoms that affects a person, plant or animal. (noun)

An example of a disease is cancer.

See disease in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

any departure from health; illness in general
a particular destructive process in an organ or organism, with a specific cause and characteristic symptoms; specif., an illness; ailment
any harmful or destructive condition, as of society

transitive verb diseased, diseasing

to cause disease in; infect or derange: usually in pp.

Related Forms:

See disease in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(dĭ-zēzˈ)

noun

A pathological condition of a part, organ, or system of an organism resulting from various causes, such as infection, genetic defect, or environmental stress, and characterized by an identifiable group of signs or symptoms.
A condition or tendency, as of society, regarded as abnormal and harmful.
Obsolete Lack of ease; trouble.

Learn more about disease

» disease synonyms

Related Articles

» A Closer Look: Definition of Pathology

link/cite print suggestion box

More from YD