erysipelas Hear it!

erysipelas definition

ery·sip·elas (er′i sip′ə ləs, ir′-)

noun

an acute infectious disease of the skin or mucous membranes caused by a streptococcus and characterized by local inflammation and fever

Etymology: ME erisipela < L erysipelas < Gr < base of erythros, red + -pelas, akin to L pellis: see fell

Related Forms:

  • erysipelatous er′y·si·pel′a·tous (-si pel′ə təs) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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