noun
rubella
roo-BEL-uh/ruːˈbelə/
A contagious viral disease also called German measles.
The clinical illustration shows a pink rash and swelling associated with rubella.
Etymology
Latin “red” with a diminutive ending yielded “reddish.” Used as a noun meaning “rash,” this became the disease name, pointing to its characteristic rose-colored eruptions.
In context
Rubella, also known as German measles or the 3-day measles, is a mild viral childhood infection caused by the rubella virus and is usually associated with malaise, fever, rash, and lymphadenopathy.
More examples
- Vaccination helps protect people from rubella.
- Getting rubella during pregnancy can harm the developing baby.
- The doctor orders a blood test to check for rubella.
Similar words
- German measles
- Names the same disease; rubella is the standard medical term.