Word
rabies
Phoneticsra·bies
US/ˈɹeɪbiz/
UK/ɹˈeɪbɪz/
Definition
n. a very serious disease that animals can pass to humans through a bite. It affects the brain and is usually fatal if not treated immediately.
n. an acute, viral infectious disease of the central nervous system in mammals, typically transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. Characterised by hydrophobia and neurological deterioration.
Examples
“The dog was tested for rabies after it bit the mailman.”
“Health officials urged anyone bitten by a stray animal to seek immediate medical attention to prevent rabies.”
“While modern vaccines have made the disease preventable, rabies remains a significant public health threat in regions where domestic animal populations are not systematically immunised.”
Examples
simple
“The dog was tested for rabies after it bit the mailman.”
contextual
“Health officials urged anyone bitten by a stray animal to seek immediate medical attention to prevent rabies.”
complex
“While modern vaccines have made the disease preventable, rabies remains a significant public health threat in regions where domestic animal populations are not systematically immunised.”
Usage
Takes a singular verb; often used without an article.
Real-World Examples
“Additionally, animals carry diseases, such as rabies and leptospirosis, that can be fatal to people.” “The agency also received reports from state health departments of increased administration of post-exposure prophylaxis treatments after a possible rabies exposure.” Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin rabiēs (“rage, madness, fury”). Doublet of rage.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/rabies