tuberculosis
noun
tu·ber·cu·lo·sis
tu̇-ˌbər-kyə-ˈlō-səs 
tyu̇-
plural tuberculoses
tu̇-ˌbər-kyə-ˈlō-ˌsēz
tyu̇-
: a highly variable communicable disease of humans and some other vertebrates that is caused by the tubercle bacillus and rarely in the U.S. by a related mycobacterium (Mycobacterium bovis), that affects especially the lungs but may spread to other areas (such as the kidney or spinal column), and that is characterized by fever, cough, difficulty in breathing, formation of tubercles, caseation, pleural effusions, and fibrosis
Examples of tuberculosis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
However, diseases like tuberculosis (TB) and the mumps do continue to exist.
—
Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 10 Sep. 2024
In a new bid to finally defeat bovine tuberculosis (TB), the United Kingdom plans to accelerate research on cattle vaccines, test more cattle, and end the controversial culling of wild badgers, which can spread the disease to cows.
—Byerik Stokstad, science.org, 5 Sep. 2024
Certain medications, like rifampin (a tuberculosis drug) and Pyridium (phenazopyridine), a drug that relieves symptoms of a UTI19
Certain foods, namely beets and rhubarb
Tips for Keeping Your Urinary System Healthy
Summary
Hematuria is red blood cells in the urine.
—Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 1 July 2024
The ancients of Greece and China confirmed tuberculosis by tossing a patient’s sputum onto hot coals and smelling the fumes.
—Scott Sayare Robert Petkoff Anna Diamond Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 14 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for tuberculosis 
Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 10 Sep. 2024
In a new bid to finally defeat bovine tuberculosis (TB), the United Kingdom plans to accelerate research on cattle vaccines, test more cattle, and end the controversial culling of wild badgers, which can spread the disease to cows.
—Byerik Stokstad, science.org, 5 Sep. 2024
Certain medications, like rifampin (a tuberculosis drug) and Pyridium (phenazopyridine), a drug that relieves symptoms of a UTI19
Certain foods, namely beets and rhubarb
Tips for Keeping Your Urinary System Healthy
Summary
Hematuria is red blood cells in the urine.
—Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 1 July 2024
The ancients of Greece and China confirmed tuberculosis by tossing a patient’s sputum onto hot coals and smelling the fumes.
—Scott Sayare Robert Petkoff Anna Diamond Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 14 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for tuberculosis
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tuberculosis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near tuberculosis
Cite this Entry
“Tuberculosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tuberculosis. Accessed 19 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tuberculosis
noun
tu·ber·cu·lo·sis
t(y)u̇-ˌbər-kyə-ˈlō-səs
: a disease of human beings and some other vertebrates caused by a bacterium and usually marked by wasting, fever, and formation of cheesy tubercles that in human beings occur mostly in the lungs
tuberculous
adjective
t(y)u̇-ˈbər-kyə-ləs
Medical Definition
tuberculosis
noun
tu·ber·cu·lo·sis
t(y)u̇-ˌbər-kyə-ˈlō-səs
plural tuberculoses
-ˌsēz
: a usually chronic highly variable disease that is caused by a bacterium of the genus Mycobacterium (M. tuberculosis) and rarely in the United States by a related mycobacterium (M. bovis), is usually communicated by inhalation of the airborne causative agent, affects especially the lungs but may spread to other areas (as the kidney or spinal column) from local lesions or by way of the lymph or blood vessels, and is characterized by fever, cough, difficulty in breathing, inflammatory infiltrations, formation of tubercles, caseation, pleural effusion, and fibrosis
called also TB
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