First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
disease
noun dis·ease \di-ˈzēz\
: an illness that affects a person, animal, or plant : a condition that prevents the body or mind from working normally
: a problem that a person, group, organization, or society has and cannot stop
Full Definition of DISEASE
1
obsolete : trouble
2
3
: a harmful development (as in a social institution)
— dis·eased \-ˈzēzd\ adjective
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Origin of DISEASE
Middle English disese, from Anglo-French desease, desaise, from des- dis- + eise ease
Related to DISEASE
DISEASE Defined for Kids
disease
noun dis·ease \di-ˈzēz\
Definition of DISEASE for Kids
: a change in a living body (as of a person or plant) that prevents it from functioning normally : sickness
Medical Dictionary
disease
noun dis·ease \diz-ˈēz\
Medical Definition of DISEASE
: an impairment of the normal state of the living animal or plant body or one of its parts that interrupts or modifies the performance of the vital functions, is typically manifested by distinguishing signs and symptoms, and is a response to environmental factors (as malnutrition, industrial hazards, or climate), to specific infective agents (as worms, bacteria, or viruses), to inherent defects of the organism (as genetic anomalies), or to combinations of these factors : sickness, illness—called also morbus; compare health 1
—dis·eased \-ˈēzd\ adjective
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