nuclear

relating to a nucleus

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A visibly exhausted, feverish young adult receives an examination of swollen neck glands, combining the characteristic symptom cues of mononucleosis in one compact clinical scene.

noun

mononucleosis

mah-noh-noo-klee-OH-sis/ˌmɑːnəʊˌnuːkliˈəʊsɪs/

An infectious illness causing fever, fatigue, and swollen glands.

Etymology

monoEnglishsingle

+nucleEnglishrelating to a nucleus

+osisLatinabnormal condition

“Single nucleus” describes the white blood cells behind the name. The illness was named for an abnormally high proportion of these cells in the blood, with -osis marking an abnormal condition.

Full entry

Related word entries

mononucleosis