disease

Definitions

1. noun

   An illness of a person, animal or plant.

   Examples

   • The tomato plants had a disease that spotted their leaves.
   • Doctors are working to find a cure for the disease.
   ≈disorder≈illness≈sickness≈ailment≈malady +4 more
2. noun

   A harmful problem in a society or in people's attitudes.

   Examples

   • Corruption is a disease that destroys public trust.
   • Greed spread through the company like a disease.
3. noun

   In old-fashioned use, a feeling of worry or unease.

   Examples

   • A sense of disease settled over the room.
   • The unfamiliar place caused her some disease.
4. verb

   In old-fashioned use, to trouble or annoy someone.

   Examples

   • Do not disease the teacher with your questions.
   • His heavy load did disease him sorely.
5. verb

   To give someone an illness.

   Examples

   • The dirty water diseased half the village.
   • Poor sanitation diseased the whole camp.