measles Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an acute and highly contagious viral disease marked by distinct red spots followed by a rash; occurs primarily in children
    morbilli; rubeola.

WordNet

Mea"sles noun
Etymology
From lst Measle.
Definitions
  1. Leprosy; also, a leper. Obs.
Mea"sles noun
Etymology
D. mazelen; akin to G. masern, pl., and E. mazer, and orig. meaning, little spots. See Mazer.
Wordforms
plural in form, but used as singular in senses 1, 2, & 3
Definitions
  1. (Med.) A contagious febrile disorder commencing with catarrhal symptoms, and marked by the appearance on the third day of an eruption of distinct red circular spots, which coalesce in a crescentic form, are slightly raised above the surface, and after the fourth day of the eruption gradually decline; rubeola.
    Measles commences with the ordinary symptoms of fever. Am. Cyc.
  2. (Veter. Med.) A disease of cattle and swine in which the flesh is filled with the embryos of different varieties of the tapeworm.
  3. A disease of trees. Obs.
  4. pl. (Zoöl.) The larvæ of any tapeworm (Tænia) in the cysticerus stage, when contained in meat. Called also bladder worms.

Webster 1913