Definition

1. Noun:
   • A serious infectious disease affecting humans: "anthrax" refers to a non-communicable human disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which can lead to blood poisoning.
   • A highly infectious disease affecting animals: "anthrax" also denotes a severe, often fatal disease, especially in cattle and sheep, caused by the same bacterium, which can be transmitted to humans.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The farmer was diagnosed with cutaneous anthrax after handling an infected animal.
  • An outbreak of anthrax in the cattle herd led to a quarantine of the farm.
  • Laboratory workers must take precautions when handling samples that may contain anthrax spores.

Advanced Usage

• "Inhalation anthrax": a form of the disease contracted by breathing in anthrax spores, which is often severe.
  • Inhalation anthrax is the most deadly form of the disease.
• "Gastrointestinal anthrax": a form contracted from eating contaminated meat.
  • Gastrointestinal anthrax is rare in developed countries.

Variants and Related Words

• Anthracoid (adj): resembling anthrax or a carbuncle.
  • The lesion had an anthracoid appearance.
• Anthracic (adj): pertaining to or affected by anthrax.
  • The vet identified anthracic symptoms in the sheep.

Synonyms

• Woolsorter's disease: an older term for inhalation anthrax, historically associated with sorting contaminated wool.
• Splenic fever: an alternative name for anthrax, referring to the characteristic enlargement of the spleen in infected animals.

Related Phrases

• Anthrax vaccine: a vaccine used to prevent anthrax infection.
  • Military personnel are often required to receive the anthrax vaccine.
• Anthrax spore: the dormant, resilient form of the bacterium.
  • Anthrax spores can survive in soil for many years.

Related Idioms

(Note: Due to the specific and serious nature of the disease, "anthrax" is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions. Its usage is primarily medical, veterinary, and in public health contexts.)

Noun

1. a disease of humans that is not communicable; caused by infection with Bacillus anthracis followed by septicemia
2. a highly infectious animal disease (especially cattle and sheep); it can be transmitted to people