disease
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.an illness or medical condition that stops the body or mind from working correctly.
n.a specific pathological condition with a characteristic set of signs and symptoms; it may affect the whole body or any of its parts.
Simple“The doctor explained that the disease could be treated with medicine.”
In context“Researchers are working to identify the genetic markers that make certain populations more susceptible to the disease.”
PitfallHe is suffering from a heart's disease. He is suffering from heart disease.When naming a type of disease, use the noun as a modifier (heart disease, lung disease) rather than a possessive form.
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.a harmful or bad situation in society or in a person's character.
n.a harmful or corrupting condition or influence within a social or moral context.
Simple“Greed was described as a disease that was destroying the city.”
In context“The philosopher argued that apathy was a moral disease that threatened the very foundations of democratic society.”
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
v.to make someone or something sick with a disease.
v.to infect with a pathogen or to cause a diseased state.
Simple“The contaminated water began to disease the local wildlife.”
In context“The pathogen was specifically engineered to disease the crops without affecting the local insect population.”
Synonyms
Usage disease outbreaks · disease cancer · disease research
From Middle English disese, from Anglo-Norman desese, disaise, from Old French desaise, from des- + aise. Displaced native Middle English adle, audle (“disease”) (from Old English ādl (“disease, sickness”), see adle), Middle English cothe, coathe (“disease”) (from Old English coþu (“disease”), see coath). By surface analysis, dis- + ease.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.