meningitis
noun
men·in·gi·tis
ˌme-nən-ˈjī-təs
plural meningitides
ˌme-nən-ˈji-tə-ˌdēz
: inflammation of the meninges and especially of the pia mater and arachnoid
specifically
: a disease marked by inflammation of the meninges that is either a relatively mild illness caused by a virus (such as various Coxsackieviruses) or a more severe usually life-threatening illness caused by a bacterium (especially the meningococcus, Neisseria meningitides, or the serotype designated B of Haemophilus influenzae)
Note: Meningitis is often marked by fever, headache, vomiting, malaise, and stiff neck, and if left untreated in bacterial forms, may progress to confusion, stupor, convulsions, coma, and death.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share