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Definition of rabies

rabies

/ˈreɪ.biːz/
ra · bies
Adjective:rabid
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rabies Lexical Profile

rabies Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

An acute, usually fatal viral disease of the central nervous system affecting warm-blooded animals and humans, typically transmitted through the bite or saliva of an infected animal and causing madness, convulsions, and difficulty swallowing.

Example

"Veterinarians strongly recommend vaccinating domestic pets against rabies to prevent the spread of the virus."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for rabies

Word Nuance & Usage

Although "rabies" ends in "-s", it is an uncountable noun that always takes a singular verb (e.g., "Rabies is transmitted through infected saliva").

• Rhymes for rabies

• Nearby Words

rabble
rabid
rabidly
rabies
raccoon
race
racecar

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 16th century directly from Latin "rabies", meaning "madness" or "fury," derived from the verb "rabere" ("to rave" or "to be mad"), which also gave rise to the English word "rage."

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Rabies. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/rabies
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