illness */*/*/

illness */*/*/
UK [ˈɪlnəs] / US noun
Word forms "illness":
singular illness plural illnesses
Other ways of saying illness:
disease a serious illness that usually lasts a long time, often one that affects a particular part of the body: tropical diseases ♦ She has a rare lung disease. infection an illness that is caused by bacteria and that does not usually last a long time: He was off work with a throat infection. virus a very small germ that causes illness, or an illness caused by these things: The virus is highly contagious. ♦ She has a virus. condition an illness or medical problem that affects someone for a long time: a serious heart condition disorder (formal) a situation in which a particular part of someone's body does not operate normally, often causing illness for a long period of time: a stomach/heart/liver disorder ailment a minor illness that may be painful or uncomfortable: He was complaining about his various ailments. bug (informal) an illness caused by a virus or bacteria that is not serious and that does not usually last a long time: a stomach bug
Metaphor:
Trying to recover from an illness or trying to stay healthy is like fighting a battle, with the illness as your enemy. Dying from an illness is like losing a battle. A good diet will help your body fight disease. ♦ Jean died on Sunday after a long battle against cancer. ♦ I've been fighting off a cold all week. ♦ Vitamins help build resistance to infection. ♦ The virus attacks the immune system. ♦ He has suffered from regular bouts of depression. ♦ You tend to get ill when your body's natural defences are low. ♦ The company is developing a new drug to combat malaria. ♦ Simple hygiene measures can help guard against infection. ♦ He was diagnosed with invasive lung cancer. ♦ She is suffering from the most aggressive form of the disease. ♦ Millions of people are falling victim to AIDS every year.
[uncountable] the state of feeling ill or of having a disease

He missed five days of school because of illness.

patients who are recovering from major surgery or serious illness

a) [countable] a particular disease, or a period of being ill

She had had no serious illnesses, and had never been in hospital.

My aunt died that spring after a long illness.

b) [countable/uncountable] a serious mental problem

More than three million people suffer from severe mental illness.

depressive illnesses


English dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Illness — (sometimes referred to as ill health or ail) can be defined as a state of poor health. It is sometimes considered a synonym for disease. [DorlandsDict|four/000052397|illness] Others maintain that fine distinctions exist.cite journal |author=Emson …   Wikipedia

  • Illness — Ill ness, n. [From {Ill}.] 1. The condition of being ill, evil, or bad; badness; unfavorableness. [Obs.] The illness of the weather. Locke. [1913 Webster] 2. Disease; indisposition; malady; disorder of health; sickness; as, a short or a severe… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • illness — I noun affliction, ailing, ailment, complaint, defect, disability, disease, disorder, infirmity, malady, prostration, sickness associated concepts: mental illness, terminal illness, Unemployment Compensation, Workers Compensation Law II index …   Law dictionary

  • illness — (n.) disease, sickness, 1680s, from ILL (Cf. ill) + NESS (Cf. ness). Earlier it meant bad moral quality (c.1500) …   Etymology dictionary

  • illness — [n] disease; bad health affliction, ailing, ailment, attack, breakdown, bug*, collapse, complaint, confinement, convalescence, disability, diseasedness, disorder, disturbance, dose, failing health, fit, flu, ill health, indisposition, infirmity,… …   New thesaurus

  • illness — ► NOUN ▪ a disease or period of sickness …   English terms dictionary

  • illness — [il′nis] n. 1. the condition of being ill, or in poor health; sickness; disease 2. Obs. wickedness …   English World dictionary

  • illness — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ deadly, fatal, incurable, terminal ▪ catastrophic (AmE, law), critical, dangerous, debilitating, devastating …   Collocations dictionary

  • illness — ill|ness W3S2 [ˈılnıs] n [U and C] a disease of the body or mind, or the condition of being ill ▪ She had all the normal childhood illnesses . ▪ I d been told I d been suffering from various illnesses . ▪ Her mother was just recovering from an… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • illness*/*/*/ — [ˈɪlnəs] noun 1) [U] the state of feeling ill or having a disease He missed five days of school because of illness.[/ex] 2) [C] a particular disease, or a period of being ill a serious illness[/ex] • Other ways of saying illness ■ bug (informal)… …   Dictionary for writing and speaking English

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