poliomyelitis

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Acute infection by the poliovirus, especially of the motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis and sometimes deformity.

Pronunciation

pŏ'lĭōmīəlīʹtĭs pō'lĭōmīəlīʹtĭs /ˌpɒlɪəʊmaɪəˈlaɪtɪs/ /ˈpəʊlɪəʊmaɪəˈlaɪtɪs/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-poliomyelitis.wav

Word forms

poliomyelitis poliomyelitides

Etymology

Borrowed from German Poliomyelitis, from the Ancient Greek πολιός (poliós, “grey”) + μυελός (muelós, “marrow”) + -ῖτις (-îtis, “-itis”). Compare French poliomyélite.

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