tetanus
1 synonym for tetanus, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A serious bacterial infection, often from a dirty wound, that causes severe muscle stiffness and spasms.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use tetanus
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
tetanus shot
tetanus vaccine
tetanus infection
Etymology
From Latin tetanus, from Ancient Greek tetanos, related to teino, "to stretch" — describing how the disease pulls muscles into a rigid, locked state.
Full origin of tetanus →Frequently asked questions
What does “tetanus” mean?
The word “tetanus” means a serious bacterial infection, often from a dirty wound, that causes severe muscle stiffness and spasms. In plain terms, a dangerous infection that makes muscles lock up, famously linked to rusty metal wounds.
How do you pronounce “tetanus”?
“Tetanus” is pronounced TEHT-uhn-uhs (/ˈtɛt.ən.əs/ in IPA).
How do you use “tetanus” in a sentence?
Here is “tetanus” used in a sentence: “He got a tetanus shot after stepping on a rusty nail.”
What part of speech is “tetanus”?
“Tetanus” is a noun.
Where does the word “tetanus” come from?
The word “tetanus” comes from Ancient Greek. From Latin tetanus, from Ancient Greek tetanos, related to teino, "to stretch" — describing how the disease pulls muscles into a rigid, locked state.
How many meanings does “tetanus” have?
“Tetanus” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a serious bacterial infection, often from a dirty wound, that causes severe muscle stiffness and spasms.
