plague

plague
1 noun
1 (C, U) an attack of a disease that causes death and spreads quickly to a large number of people: Europe suffered many plagues in the Middle Ages.
2 (U) also the plague a very infectious disease that produces high fever and swellings on the body, and often leads to death, especially bubonic plague: an outbreak of plague
—see also: Black Death
3 a plague of rats/locusts etc an uncontrollable and harmful increase in the numbers of a particular animal or insect
4 a plague on literary used to show that you are extremely annoyed with someone or something
—see also: avoid sb/sth like the plague avoid (2) 2 verb (transitive usually passive)
1 to cause continual discomfort, suffering, or trouble to someone: Nick was plagued by ill health throughout his short life. | street crime, riots, and other social problems plaguing our community
2 (T) to annoy someone, especially by continually asking them for something: plague sb with sth: The kids have been plaguing me with questions.

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Plague — may refer to:In medicine: * Plague (disease), a specific disease caused by Yersinia pestis . There are three major manifestations ** Bubonic plague ** Septicemic plague ** Pneumonic plague * Any bubo causing disease * A pandemic caused by such a… …   Wikipedia

  • Plague — Plague, n. [L. plaga a blow, stroke, plague; akin to Gr. ?, fr. ? to strike; cf. L. plangere to strike, beat. Cf. {Plaint}.] 1. That which smites, wounds, or troubles; a blow; a calamity; any afflictive evil or torment; a great trail or vexation …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • plague — [plāg] n. [ME plage < MFr < L plaga, a blow, misfortune, in LL(Ec), plague < Gr plēgē, plaga < IE * plaga, a blow < base * plag , to strike > FLAW2] 1. anything that afflicts or troubles; calamity; scourge 2. any contagious… …   English World dictionary

  • Plague — Plague, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Plagued}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Plaguing}.] 1. To infest or afflict with disease, calamity, or natural evil of any kind. [1913 Webster] Thus were they plagued And worn with famine. Milton. [1913 Webster] 2. Fig.: To vex;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • plague — plague; plague·some; pseu·do·plague; …   English syllables

  • plague — [n1] disease that is widespread affliction, contagion, curse, epidemic, hydra, infection, infestation, influenza, invasion, outbreak, pandemic, pestilence, rash, ravage, scourge; concept 306 plague [n2] annoyance, curse affliction, aggravation,… …   New thesaurus

  • plague — I verb afflict, aggravate, aggrieve, annoy, badger, bait, bedevil, beset, bother, browbeat, bullyrag, cross, devil, discommode, discompose, displease, disquiet, distress, disturb, exagitare, exasperate, exercere, fret, gall, gibe, grate, harry,… …   Law dictionary

  • plague — vb pester, tease, tantalize, harry, harass, *worry, annoy Analogous words: gall, fret, chafe (see ABRADE): *bait, badger, hector, hound, ride: torment, *afflict, try Contrasted words: *relieve, mitigate, lighten, assuage, alleviate …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • plague — ► NOUN 1) a contagious disease spread by bacteria and characterized by fever and delirium. 2) an unusually and unpleasantly large quantity of insects or animals. ► VERB (plagues, plagued, plaguing) 1) cause continual trouble or distress to. 2) …   English terms dictionary

  • plague — plaguer, n. /playg/, n., v., plagued, plaguing. n. 1. an epidemic disease that causes high mortality; pestilence. 2. an infectious, epidemic disease caused by a bacterium, Yersinia pestis, characterized by fever, chills, and prostration,… …   Universalium

  • Plague — The plague is an infectious disease due to a bacteria called Yersinia pestis. Y. pestis mainly infects rats and other rodents. Rodents are the prime reservoir for the bacteria. Fleas function as the prime vectors carrying the bacteria from one… …   Medical dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”