noun
dengue
DENG-ee/ˈdeŋɡi/
A viral illness spread by mosquitoes that causes fever and severe aches.
Dengue causes high fever and severe aches throughout the body.
Etymology
West Indian Spanish dengue already named the illness. Its African ancestry may involve Swahili dinga, “seizure, cramp,” a possible connection to its painful symptoms rather than an established derivation.
More examples
- The clinic tests patients for dengue when their symptoms suggest infection.
- Insect repellent helps protect travelers from mosquitoes that spread dengue.
- He misses a week of work while recovering from dengue.
Similar words
- dengue fever
- A fuller name for the same mosquito-borne viral illness.