Definition of ALLERGY

allergy

Meanings

Plural: allergies

Noun

  • hypersensitivity reaction to a particular allergen; symptoms can vary greatly in intensity
  • A disorder of the immune system causing adverse reactions to substances (allergens) not harmful to most and marked by the body's production of histamines and associated with atopy, anaphylaxis, and asthma; any condition of hypersensitivity to a substance.
  • A disorder of the immune system causing adverse reactions to substances (allergens) not harmful to most and marked by the body's production of histamines and associated with atopy, anaphylaxis, and asthma; any condition of hypersensitivity to a substance.
  • Specifically, hypersensitivity of class I in the modern classification thereof: the immunoglobulin E–mediated type.
  • An antipathy, as toward a person or activity.

Origin / Etymology

Borrowed from German Allergie. Coined by Austrian pediatrician Clemens von Pirquet in 1906 from Ancient Greek ἄλλος (állos, “other”) + ἔργον (érgon, “work, activity”), on the model of Energie.

Synonyms

allergic reaction, intolerance, type 1 hypersensitivity

Scrabble Score: 11

allergy is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
allergy is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
allergy is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 13

allergy is a valid Words With Friends word