Word
tetanus
US/ˈtɛtənəs/
UK/tˈɛtənəs/
Definition
n. a serious disease that causes your muscles to become very stiff and painful. It usually happens when bacteria enter your body through a cut or scratch.
n. a severe bacterial infection caused by the toxin of Clostridium tetani, resulting in generalized rigidity and spasms of skeletal muscles. Often referred to as 'lockjaw' due to the characteristic stiffness of the jaw muscles.
Examples
“He received a tetanus shot after falling on a rusty nail.”
“The doctor recommended a booster shot for tetanus after the patient suffered a deep cut while gardening.”
“Despite modern medical advancements, tetanus remains a significant public health concern in regions where routine immunization programs have been disrupted by conflict or poverty.”
Examples
simple
“He received a tetanus shot after falling on a rusty nail.”
contextual
“The doctor recommended a booster shot for tetanus after the patient suffered a deep cut while gardening.”
complex
“Despite modern medical advancements, tetanus remains a significant public health concern in regions where routine immunization programs have been disrupted by conflict or poverty.”
Real-World Examples
“The share of five-year-olds in England who have received a four-in-one jab (which protects against viruses like polio and tetanus) is now 81%, down from 89% in 2014.” Etymology
From Latin tetanus, from Ancient Greek τέτανος (tétanos), from τείνω (teínō, “I stretch”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/tetanus