Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A specific contagious disease, usually of childhood, characterized by an eruption of vesicles of moderate size, filled with a clear, slightly yellowish fluid; chicken-pox: swine-pox.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Med.) Chicken pox.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun pathology chickenpox

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an acute contagious disease caused by herpes varicella zoster virus; causes a rash of vesicles on the face and body

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[New Latin, diminutive of variola, variola; see variola.]

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Examples

  • A virus called varicella zoster lies dormant in the body before emerging later in life when the immune system wanes.

    BusinessWeek.com -- Top News 2011

  • Dr. Festus Akinbami, a consultant paediatrician at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, described chickenpox as a disease that is caused by a virus called varicella zoster.

    Welcome to the Frontpage 2009

  • The shot you're talking about is an immunization against a virus called the varicella-zoster virus.

    WN.com - Articles related to Reliance, Brad Pitt's production co join hands for a film 2009

  • I understand why people are fearful of pox; varicella is an airborne disease, and toddlers aren’t good at covering their mouths or washing their hands.

    A Pox On Me | Her Bad Mother 2007

  • Since 2005, three new vaccines have been added to the list of recommended vaccines for adolescents along with an additional dose of varicella, which is designed to protect against chicken pox.

    HPV Vaccine Gaining Acceptance 2008

  • Also, the virus - called varicella - can reactivate in people later in life and cause a painful illness called shingles.

    Thestar.com - Home Page Mike Stobbe 2011

  • Chicken pox, real name varicella, is caused by the varicella zoster virus.

    News 2011

  • The culprit is a germ called the varicella zoster virus (VZV), the chickenpox virus.

    unknown title 2009

  • Stroke is a known complication of chickenpox, a viral disease also called varicella, the study team points out.

    Medlogs - Recent stories 2009

  • You are correct that chickenpox (also called varicella) does still exist, both in the United States and all over the world.

    CNN.com 2009

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  • chickenpox

    November 7, 2007