mellitus
What is another word for mellitus? Here is its meaning, with related words and examples.
Adjective — Used in the medical term diabetes mellitus to distinguish the sugar-related disease from diabetes insipidus, referring to the sweet, sugary urine that characterises it.
We haven't recorded synonyms for mellitus yet. You can still read its full definition, where it comes from, or words that rhyme with it.
How to use mellitus
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
diabetes mellitus
type 1 diabetes mellitus
gestational diabetes mellitus
Strictly medical; it never appears on its own outside the phrase diabetes mellitus.
Etymology
From Latin mellitus 'sweetened with honey', from mel 'honey'.
Full origin of mellitus →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus?
Diabetes mellitus is the common condition in which blood sugar is too high because the body lacks insulin or cannot use it properly. Diabetes insipidus is unrelated to sugar: it involves the hormone that controls water balance, causing huge thirst and dilute urine.
Why is diabetes called mellitus?
Mellitus is Latin for 'honeyed'. Before laboratory tests, physicians identified the disease by the sweetness of the patient's urine, which is loaded with unused sugar.
