TB
8 synonyms for TB, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Tuberculosis: an infectious disease caused by a bacterium, usually attacking the lungs and spread through the air by coughing, and treatable with a long course of antibiotics.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use TB
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
TB test
drug-resistant TB
contract TB
1 TB SSD
TB of storage
Both senses are standard; context makes the meaning obvious.
Etymology
An initialism: of tuberculosis in the medical sense, and of terabyte in the computing sense.
Full origin of TB →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between latent TB and active TB?
In latent TB the bacteria are present but dormant, so there are no symptoms and the person is not infectious. In active TB the bacteria are multiplying, causing cough, fever, night sweats and weight loss, and the person can pass it on.
Is TB the same as a terabyte?
Only in computing. Written in capitals next to a number, TB means terabyte; in a health context it means tuberculosis. Note that Tb with a lowercase b means terabit, which is eight times smaller.
