anthrax

[an-thraks] /ˈæn θræks/
noun, plural anthraces
[an-thruh-seez] /ˈæn θrəˌsiz/ (Show IPA). Pathology
1.
an infectious, often fatal disease of cattle, sheep, and other mammals, caused by Bacillus anthracis, transmitted to humans by contaminated wool, raw meat, or other animal products.
2.
a malignant carbuncle that is the diagnostic lesion of anthrax disease in humans.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English antrax malignant boil or growth < Latin anthrax carbuncle < Greek ánthrax a coal, carbuncle
Examples from the web for anthrax
  • Some mice may be better prepared for anthrax attacks than others, a new study reveals.
  • Nurse sharks may help detect-and treat-anthrax and other infectious diseases.
  • We have thousands of gallons of anthrax still unaccounted for.
  • Car bombers, plutonium merchants, anthrax production and invisible threats to infrastructure are no longer fantasy.
  • Officials will not say what is being made exactly, but anthrax has been mentioned.
  • There, concern focuses not on the war but on the confused official reaction to the anthrax outbreak.
  • anthrax can be treated in early stages with antibiotics developed for more common infections.
  • The subject, as the programmer typed on his keyboard, was anthrax.
  • These hybrid materials will now be applied as a coating to fabric, thereby trapping and killing deadly agents such as anthrax.
  • They quickly developed a shoebox-sized prototype capable of detecting toxins, including ricin and anthrax.
British Dictionary definitions for anthrax

anthrax

/ˈænθræks/
noun (pl) -thraces (-θrəˌsiːz)
1.
a highly infectious and often fatal disease of herbivores, esp cattle and sheep, characterized by fever, enlarged spleen, and swelling of the throat. Carnivores are relatively resistant. It is caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis and can be transmitted to man
2.
a pustule or other lesion caused by this disease
Word Origin
C19: from Late Latin, from Greek: carbuncle
Word Origin and History for anthrax
n.

late 14c., "any severe boil or carbuncle," from Latin, from Greek anthrax "charcoal, live coal," also "carbuncle," of unknown origin. Specific sense of the malignant disease in sheep and cattle (and occasionally humans) is from 1876.

anthrax in Medicine

anthrax an·thrax (ān'thrāks')
n.

  1. An infectious, usually fatal disease of warm-blooded animals that is characterized by ulcerative skin lesions, can be transmitted to humans, and is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Also called carbuncle.

  2. pl. an·thra·ces (-thrə-sēz') A lesion caused by anthrax.

anthrax in Science
anthrax
  (ān'thrāks')   
An infectious, usually fatal disease of mammals, especially cattle and sheep, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. The disease is transmitted to humans through cutaneous contact, ingestion, or inhalation. Cutaneous anthrax is marked by the formation of a necrotic skin ulcer, high fever, and toxemia. Inhalation anthrax leads to severe pneumonia that is usually fatal.
anthrax in Culture

anthrax definition


An infectious disease transmitted by a bacterium in animals, which can also be transmitted to humans. Often fatal if the bacterium enters the lungs, anthrax is usually treated by antibiotics. Anthrax is a potential weapon in germ warfare and bioterrorism.

Note: After the September 11 attacks (2001) in the United States, anthrax spores sent through the mail caused several fatalities.
Note: If spores are prepared in a sophisticated way, they can stay in the air and be breathed in by human beings. Anthrax produced in this way is referred to as weaponized anthrax.