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measles

Pronunciation: /ˈmiːz(ə)lz/

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Definition of measles

noun

[treated as singular]

an infectious viral disease causing fever and a red rash, typically occurring in childhood: women queue to have their children immunized against measles a severe case of the measles
a disease of pigs and other animals caused by the larvae of the human tapeworm.

Origin:

Middle English maseles, probably from Middle Dutch masel 'pustule' (compare with modern Dutch mazelen 'measles'). The spelling change was due to association with Middle English mesel 'leprous, leprosy'