tetanus
tetanus Lexical Profile
tetanus Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An acute, potentially fatal bacterial infection caused by the neurotoxin of Clostridium tetani, typically entering through a deep wound and characterized by painful muscular spasms and rigidity, especially of the jaw and neck.
"The doctor recommended a booster shot to protect against tetanus after the gardener stepped on a rusty nail."
A prolonged, continuous contraction of a muscle fiber resulting from a rapid series of nerve impulses without intervals of relaxation.
"In physiology class, the students observed how high-frequency electrical stimulation induced complete tetanus in the isolated muscle tissue."
• Rhymes for tetanus
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Latin tetanus, from Ancient Greek tetanos ('muscular spasm, rigidity'), derived from teinein ('to stretch').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.