Smallpox

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈsmɔːlpÉ’ks/
• US IPA: /ˈsmɔːlpɑːks/

Origin

From small + pox.

Full definition of smallpox

Noun

1. (pathology) An acute, highly infectious often fatal disease caused by a virus of the family Poxviridae. It was completely eradicated in the 1970s. Those who survived were left with pockmarks.
• The Europeans brought new diseases such as smallpox, measles, dysentery, influenza, syphilis and leprosy.

Synonyms

• variola

Derived terms

• smallpox blanket