Definition of RABIES

rabies

Meanings

Noun

  • 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 infectious disease caused by species of Lyssavirus that causes acute encephalitis in warm-blooded animals and people, characterised by abnormal behaviour such as biting, excitement, aggressiveness, and dementia, followed by paralysis and death.

Origin / Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin rabiēs (“rage, madness, fury”). Doublet of rage.

Synonyms

Arctic dog disease, hydrophobia, lyssa, madness

Scrabble Score: 8

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

Words With Friends Score: 9

rabies is a valid Words With Friends word