noun
cholera
KAHL-er-uh/ˈkɑːlərə/
A bacterial intestinal disease causing severe diarrhea and dehydration.
The diagram links cholera to intestinal bacteria and severe fluid loss.
Etymology
Greek kholera named a diarrheal disease supposedly caused by bile. The name was later applied to the highly lethal epidemic disease now called cholera.
In context
helping to defeat outbreaks of Cholera and Japan and through providing safer and cleaner water
More examples
- The outbreak of cholera overwhelmed the local clinic.
- The medical report describes severe dehydration caused by cholera.
- Researchers track the spread of cholera through the region.
Forms
cholera
Similar words
- dysentery
- Dysentery is a different intestinal illness typically involving bloody diarrhea.