malaria
muh-LEH-uh-ree-uh
Malaria (noun) means a serious disease spread by mosquitoes, caused by a parasite that infects the blood and produces recurring fever. Example: “He contracted malaria while working in a rural clinic in West Africa.”
noun
1
A serious disease spread by mosquitoes, caused by a parasite that infects the blood and produces recurring fever.
"He contracted malaria while working in a rural clinic in West Africa."
"Travelers to the region are advised to take antimalarial tablets."
"Mosquito nets help protect families from malaria in many warm countries."
How to use malaria
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA mosquito-borne disease that causes fever and chills, common in tropical regions.
Common pairings
contract malaria
malaria outbreak
antimalarial drugs
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Word forms
- Plural
- malarias
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He contracted _____ while working in a rural clinic in West Africa.
Etymology
From Italian mal'aria, "bad air," from an old belief that the disease came from foul air near marshes — long before mosquitoes were identified as the real cause.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for malaria
See all rhymes for malaria →Frequently asked questions
What does “malaria” mean?
The word “malaria” means a serious disease spread by mosquitoes, caused by a parasite that infects the blood and produces recurring fever. In plain terms, a mosquito-borne disease that causes fever and chills, common in tropical regions.
How do you pronounce “malaria”?
“Malaria” is pronounced muh-LEH-uh-ree-uh (/məˈlɛəɹi.ə/ in IPA).
How do you use “malaria” in a sentence?
Here is “malaria” used in a sentence: “He contracted malaria while working in a rural clinic in West Africa.”
What part of speech is “malaria”?
“Malaria” is a noun.
Where does the word “malaria” come from?
The word “malaria” comes from Italian. From Italian mal'aria, "bad air," from an old belief that the disease came from foul air near marshes — long before mosquitoes were identified as the real cause.
Is “malaria” a common word?
“Malaria” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between malaria and dengue fever?
Malaria is caused by a parasite spread through mosquito bites that infects the blood and causes recurring fever, while dengue fever is caused by a virus, also spread by mosquitoes, but with a different set of symptoms and disease course. Both are mosquito-borne illnesses but result from entirely different pathogens.
How is malaria transmitted to humans?
Malaria spreads when a mosquito carrying the parasite bites a person, allowing the parasite to enter the bloodstream and cause infection. This is why malaria is described as a disease spread by mosquitoes rather than one passed directly between people.
Why does malaria cause recurring fevers?
Malaria causes recurring fever because the parasite that causes it repeatedly infects and multiplies within the blood, producing cyclical bouts of illness rather than a single continuous fever. This pattern of recurring fever is a hallmark symptom of the disease.
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