Chickenpox: meaning, definitions and examples

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chickenpox

 

[ หˆtสƒษชk.ษชn.pษ‘หks ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

medical condition

Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It primarily affects children, resulting in an itchy rash, fever, and tiredness. The rash typically blisters and scabs over a week or so. Though it often occurs in childhood, teenagers and adults can also contract chickenpox, which may lead to more severe complications. Vaccination has made chickenpox less common in many parts of the world.

Synonyms

chicken pox, varicella

Examples of usage

  • My son has chickenpox and needs to stay home from school.
  • Doctors recommend the chickenpox vaccine for children.
  • She remembers getting chickenpox as a child and hated the itching.
  • Chickenpox can cause serious complications, especially in adults.
  • The recent outbreak of chickenpox surprised many parents.

Translations

Translations of the word "chickenpox" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น varรญola

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคšเคฟเค•เคจเคชเฅ‰เค•เฅเคธ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Windpocken

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ cacar air

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฒั–ั‚ั€ัะฝะฐ ะฒั–ัะฟะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ ospa wietrzna

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๆฐด็—˜

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท varicelle

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ varicela

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท su รงiรงeฤŸi

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์ˆ˜๋‘

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฌุฏุฑูŠ ุงู„ู…ุงุก

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ planรฉ neลกtovice

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ vodnate neลกtovice

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆฐด็—˜

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ vodene koze

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ vattamรณr

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ััƒั‹า› ะถะฐั€ะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒฌแƒงแƒšแƒ˜แƒก แƒญแƒ˜แƒแƒœแƒญแƒ แƒ˜แƒ™แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ su รงiรงษ™yi

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ varicela

Etymology

The term 'chickenpox' originated in the late 17th century, deriving from a linguistic alteration of the word 'chicke' or 'chick' in Middle English, which denoted a young bird. The 'pox' part is derived from the Old English word 'pocca', meaning 'pustule' or 'blister', which aligns with the appearance of the rash associated with the disease. It was termed 'chicken' possibly due to the mildness of the disease, similar to how one might refer to a young and less serious version of something. Despite its name, chickenpox has nothing to do with chickens or poultry. The varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox, was first identified in the 1930s, leading to better understanding and eventually the development of a vaccine in the 1990s, which has significantly reduced the incidence of the disease worldwide.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #30,525 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.