noun
Common
Ebola
ih-BOH-luh
Ebola (noun) means a severe, often fatal viral disease causing fever and internal bleeding, first identified near the Ebola River in Central Africa. Example: “The 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa killed thousands of people.”
noun
1
A severe, often fatal viral disease causing fever and internal bleeding, first identified near the Ebola River in Central Africa.
"The 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa killed thousands of people."
How to use Ebola
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA dangerous virus, and the disease it causes, named after the African river near where it was first found.
Common pairings
Ebola outbreak
Ebola virus
contract Ebola
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The 2014 _____ outbreak in West Africa killed thousands of people.
Etymology
Named after the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, near where the virus was first identified in 1976; the river's name comes from a local phrase meaning "white water."
Class of 1976
Ebola joined the language around 1976.
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Synonyms
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ebola virus disease
evd
Rhymes for Ebola
See all rhymes for Ebola →Frequently asked questions
What does “Ebola” mean?
The word “Ebola” means a severe, often fatal viral disease causing fever and internal bleeding, first identified near the Ebola River in Central Africa. In plain terms, a dangerous virus, and the disease it causes, named after the African river near where it was first found.
How do you pronounce “Ebola”?
“Ebola” is pronounced ih-BOH-luh (/iˈboʊlə/ in IPA).
How do you use “Ebola” in a sentence?
Here is “Ebola” used in a sentence: “The 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa killed thousands of people.”
What part of speech is “Ebola”?
“Ebola” is a noun.
Where does the word “Ebola” come from?
The word “Ebola” dates back to around 1976. Named after the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, near where the virus was first identified in 1976; the river's name comes from a local phrase meaning "white water.".
Is “Ebola” a common word?
“Ebola” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How is Ebola different from other viral hemorrhagic fevers?
Ebola causes fever and internal bleeding like other hemorrhagic fevers, but it is caused by a specific virus first identified near the Ebola River in Central Africa and is known for a very high fatality rate. Other hemorrhagic fevers, such as Lassa fever, are caused by different viruses with their own patterns of severity.
Where does the name "Ebola" come from?
The disease is named after the Ebola River in Central Africa, near where it was first identified. The name reflects the geographic origin of the outbreak rather than any property of the virus itself.
Is "Ebola" always capitalized?
Yes, Ebola is capitalized because it derives from the proper noun Ebola River, even though it now functions as a common noun naming a disease.
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