influenza

[in-floo-en-zuh] /ˌɪn fluˈɛn zə/
noun
1.
Pathology. an acute, commonly epidemic disease, occurring in several forms, caused by numerous rapidly mutating viral strains and characterized by respiratory symptoms and general prostration.
Compare flu.
2.
Veterinary Pathology. an acute, contagious disease occurring in horses and swine, characterized by fever, depression, and catarrhal inflammations of the eyes, nasal passages, and bronchi, and caused by a virus.
Origin of influenza
1735-45; < Italian < Medieval Latin influentia influence
Related forms
influenzal, adjective
influenzalike, adjective
postinfluenzal, adjective
Examples from the web for influenza
  • The influenza vaccine is quickly losing its reputation as an effective way to ward off the virus in the elderly.
  • Such oscillatory dynamics are only too familiar to us, for example, in the seasonal fluctuations of influenza cases.
  • Many experts warn that the world is overdue, and unprepared, for a global influenza pandemic.
  • One day a highly contagious and lethal strain of influenza will sweep across all humanity, claiming millions of lives.
  • The influenza virus mutates so quickly that last year's vaccination is usually ineffective against this year's bug.
  • For researchers who track the evolution of influenza viruses, the news was chilling.
  • The flu is a contagious respiratory disease caused by an influenza virus.
  • Their blood serum was tested for traces of antibodies against the influenza virus.
  • The influenza virus is hiding and changing in animal populations.
  • influenza viruses are unpredictable because they are able to mutate so rapidly.
British Dictionary definitions for influenza

influenza

/ˌɪnflʊˈɛnzə/
noun
1.
a highly contagious and often epidemic viral disease characterized by fever, prostration, muscular aches and pains, and inflammation of the respiratory passages Also called grippe, (informal) flu
Derived Forms
influenzal, adjective
Word Origin
C18: from Italian, literally: influence, hence, incursion, epidemic (first applied to influenza in 1743)
Word Origin and History for influenza
n.

1743, borrowed during an outbreak of the disease in Europe, from Italian influenza "influenza, epidemic," originally "visitation, influence (of the stars)," from Medieval Latin influentia (see influence). Used in Italian for diseases since at least 1504 (cf. influenza di febbre scarlattina "scarlet fever") on notion of astral or occult influence. The 1743 outbreak began in Italy. Often applied since mid-19c. to severe colds.

influenza in Medicine

influenza in·flu·en·za (ĭn'flōō-ěn'zə)
n.
An acute contagious viral infection, commonly occurring in epidemics or pandemics, and characterized by inflammation of the respiratory tract and by the sudden onset, fever, chills, muscular pain, headache, and severe prostration. Also called grippe.

in'flu·en'zal adj.
influenza in Science
influenza
  (ĭn'fl-ěn'zə)   
A highly contagious infectious disease that is caused by any of various viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae and is characterized by fever, respiratory symptoms, fatigue, and muscle pain. It commonly occurs in epidemics, one of which killed 20 million people between 1917 and 1919.

Our Living Language  : Since ancient times, influenza has periodically swept the world. Until recently, people could not tell how this illness, which we call the flu, could spread so widely. Before people knew that organisms cause disease, they thought the stars influenced the spread of influenza. Influenza comes ultimately from the Latin word influentia, meaning "influence of the stars." Today, however, the stars are no longer blamed for the flu. Inhaling influenza viruses causes the spread of the illness.
influenza in Culture
influenza [(in-flooh-en-zuh)]

Commonly called the flu; an acute and infectious disease of the respiratory system caused by a virus and characterized by fever, muscle pain, headache, and inflammation of the mucous membranes in the respiratory tract.