Definition of HYDROPHOBIA

hydrophobia

Meanings

Plural: hydrophobias

Noun

  • a symptom of rabies in humans consisting of an aversion to swallowing liquids
  • a morbid fear of water
  • an acute viral disease of the nervous system of warm-blooded animals (usually transmitted by the bite of a rabid animal); rabies is fatal if the virus reaches the brain
  • An aversion to water, as a symptom of rabies; the disease of rabies itself.
  • A morbid fear of water; aquaphobia.
  • A lack of affinity for water; the quality of being hydrophobic

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English idroforbia (“hydrophobia”), from Latin hydrophobia, from Ancient Greek ὑδροφοβία (hudrophobía), from ὑδρο- (hudro-), combining form of ῠ̔́δωρ (hŭ́dōr, “water”), + φοβία (phobía, “phobia”). The word is analysable as hydro- + -phobia.

Synonyms

aquaphobia, lyssa, madness, rabies, water fear, waterfright

Scrabble Score: 25

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

Words With Friends Score: 24

hydrophobia is a valid Words With Friends word