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Definition of tuberculosis

tuberculosis

/tuːˌbɝː.kjəˈloʊ.sɪs/
tu · ber · cu · lo · sis
Plural:tuberculoses
•
Adjective:tuberculous
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tuberculosis Lexical Profile

tuberculosis Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A serious infectious bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that primarily affects the lungs and is characterized by the growth of nodular lesions (tubercles), persistent coughing, fever, and severe weight loss.

Example

"Advances in antibiotic therapy and public health screening have greatly reduced the mortality rate of tuberculosis over the past century."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for tuberculosis

• Rhymes for tuberculosis

• Nearby Words

tubelike
tuber
tubercular
tuberculosis
tuberose
tuberous
tuberous begonia

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1839 by German physician Johann Lukas Schönlein from Latin 'tuberculum' (meaning 'small swelling, bump, or pimple,' the diminutive of 'tuber' meaning 'lump') combined with the Greek medical suffix '-osis' denoting a diseased condition, referring to the small nodular lesions formed in infected tissues.

Cite this Entry

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