dengue

noun

den·​gue ˈdeŋ-gē 

-ˌgā

: an acute infectious disease caused by a flavivirus (species Dengue virus of the genus Flavivirus), transmitted by aedes mosquitoes, and characterized by headache, severe joint pain, and a rash

called also breakbone fever, dengue fever

Examples of dengue in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, rising temperatures expand the range of disease vectors, bringing malaria and dengue to populations with no access to preventive care. —Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025

At the same time, outbreaks of diseases such as measles and dengue are increasing, adding more urgency and responsibility to the work. —Caitlin Rivers, WIRED, 27 Dec. 2024

New research suggests that climate change is responsible for nearly a fifth of the world’s dengue burden. —Randi Richardson, NBC News, 16 Nov. 2024

The researchers suspected that hearing played a role in mosquito mating behavior after observing the courtship routines for Aedes aegypti — mosquitoes that spread diseases like dengue, Zika and yellow fever. —Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

dengue

noun

den·​gue ˈdeŋ-gē  -ˌgā 

: an acute infectious disease that is characterized by headache, severe joint pain, and a rash and that is caused by a single-stranded RNA virus of the genus Flavivirus (species Dengue virus) transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes

called also breakbone fever, dandy fever, dengue fever