trachoma

noun

tra·​cho·​ma trə-ˈkō-mə 

: a chronic contagious bacterial conjunctivitis marked by inflammatory granulations on the conjunctival surfaces, caused by a chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis), and commonly resulting in blindness if left untreated

Examples of trachoma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The doses have been donated by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. – which has given more than one billion doses toward trachoma elimination globally — and are given en masse to everyone in an area impacted by trachoma. —Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 30 Dec. 2024

All the trachoma experts in Pakistan gathered to figure out what to do. —Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 30 Dec. 2024

Besides democracy promotion and conflict resolution, the center has also long been involved in several global health programs, including fighting Guinea worm, river blindness, trachoma, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis and malaria. —Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 29 Dec. 2024

Other public health scientists probed this idea further by conducting mass antibiotic distribution trials in places where trachoma wasn’t found. —Jess Craig, Vox, 5 Dec. 2024

In communities where trachoma is still a problem, the disease prevalence is high, ranging from 60 to 90 percent. —Jess Craig, Vox, 5 Dec. 2024

Merck and Pfizer have made important drug donations to tackle diseases such as onchocerciasis and trachoma. —Sonia Shah, Foreign Affairs, 9 Nov. 2011

There, she was told about how limited access to clean water and sanitation can lead to trachoma, and some of the work being undertaken to screen and treat those with the condition at a primary eye care clinic. —Simon Perry, Peoplemag, 12 Oct. 2023

Nicholle was a master researcher of infectious diseases and made many discoveries regarding the pathology and epidemiology of brucellosis, leishmaniasis, measles, rinderpest, scarlet fever, Mediterranean spotted fever, toxoplasmosis, trachoma and tuberculosis. —Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 21 Mar. 2012

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek trachōma, from trachys rough

First Known Use

circa 1693, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for trachoma

• aroma
• diploma
• fibroma
• glaucoma
• glioma
• lipoma
• lymphoma
• myoma
• myxoma
• neuroma
• paloma
• schwannoma

Kids Definition

trachoma

noun

tra·​cho·​ma trə-ˈkō-mə 

: a serious contagious eye disease that is marked by swelling of the conjunctiva, is caused by a bacterium, and often results in blindness if left untreated

Medical Definition

trachoma

noun

tra·​cho·​ma trə-ˈkō-mə 

: a chronic contagious conjunctivitis marked by inflammatory granulations on the conjunctival surfaces, caused by a bacterium of the genus Chlamydia (C. trachomatis), and commonly resulting in blindness if left untreated

trachomatous

trə-ˈkō-mət-əs  -ˈkäm-ət-əs 

adjective