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measles

What is the opposite of measles? Here is what we hold, with its meaning and related words.

Noun — A highly contagious viral illness, common in children, that causes a red rash, fever, a runny nose, coughing and red eyes.

How to use measles

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

catch measles a measles outbreak a measles vaccine a case of measles a measles rash

Neutral, and used in both everyday and medical writing.

Etymology

The word probably comes from Middle Dutch masels or Middle Low German maselen, both meaning blood blisters or red blemishes. These in turn go back to Old High German masala, meaning a blood blister.

Full origin of measles →

Frequently asked questions

What causes measles?
Measles is caused by a virus called Measles morbillivirus. It is a highly contagious illness.
Is measles singular or plural?
The word looks plural, but it takes a singular verb, as in "measles is spreading". It is usually used with the, as in "the measles".
What are the symptoms of measles?
The illness causes red rashes, fever, a runny nose, coughing and red eyes.

Nearby words

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.