Definition

Noun: 1. An acute and highly contagious viral disease: A serious infectious illness caused by a virus, easily spread from person to person. 2. Characterized by distinct red spots followed by a rash: Its identifying symptoms begin with separate red spots (Koplik's spots inside the mouth) and then develop into a widespread red skin rash. 3. Occurs primarily in children: Although it can affect anyone not immune, it is most common in young children.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Before the vaccine was developed, morbilli was a common childhood illness.
  • The public health campaign aimed to eradicate morbilli through widespread immunization.
  • Symptoms of morbilli include high fever, cough, and a characteristic rash.

Advanced Usage

• Medical/Technical Context: The term "morbilli" is used primarily in formal medical, historical, or scientific writing. In everyday English, the disease is almost universally called measles.
  • The morbilli virus, also known as the measles virus, is a paramyxovirus.

Variants and Related Words

• Measles (noun): The common, everyday term for morbilli.
• Rubeola (noun): Another technical synonym for morbilli (measles). (Note: This is distinct from "rubella," which is German measles).
• Morbillivirus (noun): The genus of viruses that includes the pathogen causing morbilli.

Synonyms

• Measles (n): The standard synonym.
• Rubeola (n): A clinical synonym.

Notes on Meaning

• Primary Meaning: The term refers specifically to the disease caused by the measles virus. It is not used for other rash-causing illnesses.
• Historical Usage: "Morbilli" is a Latin-derived term that appears in older medical texts. Its use in contemporary general English is very rare.

Noun

1. an acute and highly contagious viral disease marked by distinct red spots followed by a rash; occurs primarily in children