Definition

1. Noun:
   • An acute febrile highly contagious viral disease: "flu" is a common, short name for influenza, a viral infection that attacks the respiratory system and often causes fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, and fatigue.

Usage

• "Flu" is primarily used as a singular, countable noun. It is most commonly preceded by the definite article "the" (e.g., ). It can also be used with "a" in some contexts (e.g., ).
• It is an informal, shortened form of the medical term "influenza."

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "the flu": The standard, most common way to refer to the illness.
  • Half the office is out with the flu.
• "a bout of flu": Used to describe an instance or episode of the illness.
  • He's recovering from a nasty bout of flu.
• "flu-like symptoms": A common phrase describing signs that resemble influenza (e.g., fever, body aches) but may be caused by another illness.
  • The patient presented with flu-like symptoms.

Variants and Related Words

• Influenza (n): The full, formal medical term for the flu.
  • Influenza can be particularly dangerous for the elderly.
• Flu season (n compound): The period, typically during colder months, when flu cases are most common.
  • It's important to get vaccinated before flu season starts.

Synonyms

• Influenza: The formal synonym.
• Grippe (n, archaic): An old-fashioned term for a severe flu.

Related Phrases

• "Come down with the flu": To begin to suffer from the flu.
  • I think I'm coming down with the flu; my throat is sore.
• "Flu shot / jab": Informal terms for the influenza vaccine.
  • Did you get your flu shot this year?

Noun

1. an acute febrile highly contagious viral disease