flu
n. C / Un. a common illness that gives you a fever, a cough, and body aches. It is like a very bad cold but usually makes you feel much weaker.
n. an acute, highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract, typically characterised by fever, muscle aches, and exhaustion. Often used as a shortened form of 'influenza'.
I stayed in bed all week because I had the flu.
The office was half-empty today because a nasty strain of flu is going around the city.
Public health officials monitor seasonal flu patterns closely to ensure that the annual vaccine remains effective against the most prevalent circulating strains.
Clipping of influenza.
Commonly used with the definite article ('the flu') when referring to the illness generally, though it can be used without it in medical contexts.
I have a fluI have the fluIn general English, this illness is almost always preceded by 'the' rather than 'a'.