Miasma meaning

mī-ăzmə, mē-
miasmas miasmata
See word origin
Frequency:
A noxious atmosphere or influence.
noun
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An unwholesome or befogging atmosphere, influence, etc.
noun
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A vapor rising as from marshes or decomposing animal or vegetable matter: formerly supposed to poison and infect the air, causing malaria, etc.
noun
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A noxious atmosphere or influence.
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A noxious atmosphere or emanation once thought to originate from swamps and waste to cause disease.
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The definition of miasma is steam rising from rotting vegetable or animal matter.

An example of miasma is vapor from a compost pile.

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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
miasma
Plural:
miasmas

Origin of miasma

  • Greek pollution, stain from miainein to pollute

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • First attested in 1665. From Ancient Greek μίασμα (miasma) (miasma) "stain, pollution".

    From Wiktionary

Miasma Sentence Examples

  • The old theory of paludism or of a noxious miasma exhaled from the ground is no longer necessary.

  • The unhealthiness of the city is chiefly due to want of proper drainage, impure drinkingwater, miasma from the disturbed rubbish heaps, and contaminated dust from the uncleansed roads and streets.

  • The water must in ritual washings run off in order to carry away the miasma or unseen demon of disease; and accordingly in baptism the early Christians used living or running water.

More sentences

Related articles

Words near miasma in the Dictionary