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measles definition

mea·sles (mē′zəlz)

noun

    1. an acute, infectious, communicable disease caused by a paramyxovirus and characterized by small, red spots on the skin, high fever, nasal discharge, etc. and occurring most frequently in childhood; rubeola
    2. any of various similar but milder diseases; esp., rubella (German measles)
  2. a disease of cattle and hogs, caused by tapeworm larvae in the flesh

Etymology: ME maseles, pl. of masel, measle, spot (? infl. by mesel, leper < OFr < L misellus, wretch < miser, wretched), akin to OHG māsa, a spot, Ger masern, measles

plural noun

tapeworm larvae

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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