herpes
pronunciation
How to pronounce herpes in British English:
UK [ˈhɜ:pi:z]
How to pronounce herpes in American English:
US [ˈhɜrpiz]
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- Noun:
- viral diseases causing eruptions of the skin or mucous membrane
- any of the animal viruses that cause painful blisters on the skin
Word Origin
- herpes
- herpes: see serpent
- herpes (n.)
- late 14c., "inflammatory, spreading skin condition" (used of shingles, gangrene, etc.), from Latin herpes "a spreading skin eruption," from Greek herpes, the name for the disease shingles, literally "creeping," from herpein "to creep" (cognate with Latin serpere "to creep;" see serpent). The condition was not distinguished into specific diseases until early 19c.
Example
- 1. Apparently the child 's disease is contagious , herpes virus !
- 2. Cases of genital herpes went up by 5 % to 30126 .
- 3. Due to its fast absorption , relief from genital herpes symptoms comes fast .
- 4. Antiviral therapy is reserved for cases of varicella-zoster and herpes simplex infection .
- 5. One strain of herpes is also passed through kissing , so be careful who you kiss !