Tetanus Definition

tĕtn-əs
noun
An acute infectious disease, often fatal, caused by the specific toxin of a bacillus (Clostridium tetani) which usually enters the body through wounds: it is characterized by spasmodic contractions and rigidity of some or all of the voluntary muscles, esp. of the jaw, face, and neck; lockjaw.
Webster's New World
The state of continuous contraction of a muscle, esp. when caused experimentally by a series of rapidly repeated stimuli.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Tetanus

Noun

Singular:
tetanus
Plural:
tetani

Origin of Tetanus

  • Middle English from Latin from Greek tetanos rigid, tetanus ten- in Indo-European roots

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

  • From Latin tetanus, from Ancient Greek τέτανος (tetanos).

    From Wiktionary

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