tuberculosis
noun
tu·ber·cu·lo·sis
tu̇-ˌbər-kyə-ˈlō-səs 
tyu̇-
plural tuberculoses
tu̇-ˌbər-kyə-ˈlō-ˌsēz
tyu̇-
: a highly variable communicable disease of humans and some other vertebrates that is caused by the tubercle bacillus and rarely in the U.S. by a related mycobacterium (Mycobacterium bovis), that affects especially the lungs but may spread to other areas (such as the kidney or spinal column), and that is characterized by fever, cough, difficulty in breathing, formation of tubercles, caseation, pleural effusions, and fibrosis
Examples of tuberculosis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
His life was cut short, however, at age 39 in 1849, after succumbing to tuberculosis.
—
Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 29 Oct. 2024
Over the next decade, this partnership worked to increase vaccine coverage for diseases, including tuberculosis, polio, and measles, catalyzed vaccine research, and spurred coordination around vaccine supplies.
—Jennifer Lotito, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
Other infections: Some infectious organisms that do not typically target the liver, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), streptococcus, tuberculosis, and others, can sometimes affect the liver, potentially causing liver fibrosis.
—Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 17 Oct. 2024
Though the family never lacked money or prestige, the future president and his three siblings suffered from bouts of poor health, including asthma, tuberculosis and spinal trouble.
—Peter Zablocki, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Oct. 2024
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Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 29 Oct. 2024
Over the next decade, this partnership worked to increase vaccine coverage for diseases, including tuberculosis, polio, and measles, catalyzed vaccine research, and spurred coordination around vaccine supplies.
—Jennifer Lotito, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
Other infections: Some infectious organisms that do not typically target the liver, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), streptococcus, tuberculosis, and others, can sometimes affect the liver, potentially causing liver fibrosis.
—Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 17 Oct. 2024
Though the family never lacked money or prestige, the future president and his three siblings suffered from bouts of poor health, including asthma, tuberculosis and spinal trouble.
—Peter Zablocki, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tuberculosis
Dictionary Entries Near tuberculosis
Cite this Entry
“Tuberculosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tuberculosis. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tuberculosis
noun
tu·ber·cu·lo·sis
t(y)u̇-ˌbər-kyə-ˈlō-səs
: a disease of human beings and some other vertebrates caused by a bacterium and usually marked by wasting, fever, and formation of cheesy tubercles that in human beings occur mostly in the lungs
tuberculous
adjective
t(y)u̇-ˈbər-kyə-ləs
Medical Definition
tuberculosis
noun
tu·ber·cu·lo·sis
t(y)u̇-ˌbər-kyə-ˈlō-səs
plural tuberculoses
-ˌsēz
: a usually chronic highly variable disease that is caused by a bacterium of the genus Mycobacterium (M. tuberculosis) and rarely in the United States by a related mycobacterium (M. bovis), is usually communicated by inhalation of the airborne causative agent, affects especially the lungs but may spread to other areas (as the kidney or spinal column) from local lesions or by way of the lymph or blood vessels, and is characterized by fever, cough, difficulty in breathing, inflammatory infiltrations, formation of tubercles, caseation, pleural effusion, and fibrosis
called also TB
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