Word
cholera
US/ˈkɑɫɝə/
UK/kˈɒləɹɐ/
Definition
n. a serious disease that causes severe stomach problems and dehydration. People usually catch it from drinking dirty water or eating contaminated food.
n. an acute infectious disease of the small intestine, typically transmitted through contaminated water supplies. Characterised by severe diarrhoea, vomiting, and rapid dehydration.
Examples
“The city improved its water system to prevent cholera.”
“After the earthquake, aid workers focused on providing clean water to stop the spread of cholera in the camps.”
“Historical accounts of the 19th-century cholera pandemics highlight how the lack of modern sanitation allowed the bacteria to decimate urban populations within weeks of the first reported case.”
Examples
simple
“The city improved its water system to prevent cholera.”
contextual
“After the earthquake, aid workers focused on providing clean water to stop the spread of cholera in the camps.”
complex
“Historical accounts of the 19th-century cholera pandemics highlight how the lack of modern sanitation allowed the bacteria to decimate urban populations within weeks of the first reported case.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the disease itself; can be countable when referring to specific outbreaks or strains.
Real-World Examples
“WHO CE.Onuekwe A WHO official vaccinates a child against cholera during a campaign drive in Borno state, northeastern Nigeria (file).” “Equally, "we must also remember that Ebola is only one threat the people of DRC face, including maternal mortality, diarrheal disease, pneumonia, malaria, cholera and more", the WHO chief stressed.” Etymology
From Latin cholera (“bilious disease”), from Ancient Greek χολέρα (kholéra, “cholera”). Doublet of choler.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Collocations
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/cholera