miasma

The definition of miasma is steam rising from rotting vegetable or animal matter.

(noun)

An example of miasma is vapor from a compost pile.

See miasma in Webster's New World College Dictionary

a vapor rising as from marshes or decomposing animal or vegetable matter, formerly supposed to poison and infect the air, causing malaria, etc.
an unwholesome or befogging atmosphere, influence, etc.

Origin: ModL < Gr, pollution < miainein, to pollute < IE base *mai- > OE mal, a spot

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See miasma in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. mi·as·mas or mi·as·ma·ta (-mə-tə)

A noxious atmosphere or influence: “The family affection, the family expectations, seemed to permeate the atmosphere . . . like a coiling miasma” (Louis Auchincloss).
a. A poisonous atmosphere formerly thought to rise from swamps and putrid matter and cause disease.
b. A thick vaporous atmosphere or emanation: wreathed in a miasma of cigarette smoke.

Origin:

Origin: Greek, pollution, stain

Origin: , from miainein, to pollute

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