noun
dengue
DEHNG-gee
Dengue (noun) means a tropical viral illness spread by mosquitoes, causing high fever, rash, and severe joint pain. Example: “Health officials warned travelers about a dengue outbreak in the region.”
noun
1
A tropical viral illness spread by mosquitoes, causing high fever, rash, and severe joint pain.
"Health officials warned travelers about a dengue outbreak in the region."
"She was hospitalized with dengue after a trip to Southeast Asia."
How to use dengue
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA serious mosquito-borne tropical disease, sometimes called "breakbone fever" because of the severe joint and muscle pain it causes.
Common pairings
dengue fever
dengue outbreak
contract dengue
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Word forms
- Plural
- dengues
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Health officials warned travelers about a _____ outbreak in the region.
Etymology
Entered English via Spanish dengue in the 1800s, tracing back to a Swahili term for a sudden cramp-like seizure.
Class of 1800
dengue joined the language around 1800.
See the full Class of 1800 →
Synonyms
View more →
dandy fever
dengue fever
breakbone fever
Rhymes for dengue
See all rhymes for dengue →Frequently asked questions
What does “dengue” mean?
The word “dengue” means a tropical viral illness spread by mosquitoes, causing high fever, rash, and severe joint pain. In plain terms, a serious mosquito-borne tropical disease, sometimes called "breakbone fever" because of the severe joint and muscle pain it causes.
How do you pronounce “dengue”?
“Dengue” is pronounced DEHNG-gee (/ˈdɛŋ.ɡi/ in IPA).
How do you use “dengue” in a sentence?
Here is “dengue” used in a sentence: “Health officials warned travelers about a dengue outbreak in the region.”
What part of speech is “dengue”?
“Dengue” is a noun.
Where does the word “dengue” come from?
The word “dengue” dates back to around 1800 and comes from Spanish. Entered English via Spanish dengue in the 1800s, tracing back to a Swahili term for a sudden cramp-like seizure.
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