gilles de la tourette syndrome: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “gilles de la tourette syndrome” mean?
A neurological disorder characterized by involuntary tics and vocalizations.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A neurological disorder characterized by involuntary tics and vocalizations.
A neurodevelopmental condition of the central nervous system, typically emerging in childhood, marked by motor and vocal tics that may change in type and severity over time.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK usage often retains the full 'Gilles de la Tourette syndrome' or uses 'Tourette's syndrome'. US usage frequently shortens it to 'Tourette syndrome' or 'Tourette's'.
Connotations
Both identical; a medical diagnosis with no regional connotative difference.
Frequency
More frequent in US medical discourse due to higher public awareness campaigns; the shortened form 'Tourette's' is dominant in everyday speech in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “gilles de la tourette syndrome” in a Sentence
Patient + have/has + Gilles de la Tourette syndromeGilles de la Tourette syndrome + affect + patientDiagnose + patient + with + Gilles de la Tourette syndromeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gilles de la tourette syndrome” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The consultant said he likely tourettes.
- He was touretting throughout the interview.
American English
- She was diagnosed with touretting at age seven.
- He tourettes when he's stressed.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form]
adjective
British English
- Gilles de la Tourette symptoms can be managed.
- She has a Tourette's diagnosis.
American English
- He has Tourette syndrome tics.
- Tourette's awareness is growing.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in workplace accommodation discussions.
Academic
Common in medical, psychological, and neuroscience literature.
Everyday
Used in general discussion of health and disability, often in shortened form.
Technical
The standard term in neurology and psychiatry for the specific disorder.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gilles de la tourette syndrome”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gilles de la tourette syndrome”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gilles de la tourette syndrome”
- Misspelling as 'Gilles de la Tourettes' (incorrect apostrophe).
- Omitting the 'de la' part.
- Using it as a colloquial synonym for erratic behaviour in a non-clinical, offensive way.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Coprolalia (involuntary swearing) affects only a minority (around 10-15%) of people with Tourette syndrome. The condition is primarily defined by a combination of motor and vocal tics.
It is very rare. Gilles de la Tourette syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder, meaning its onset is almost always in childhood, typically between the ages of 5 and 10.
There is no known cure. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms to improve quality of life and may include behavioural therapy, medication, or a combination of both.
He was Jean-Martin Charcot's French neurologist intern, Georges Gilles de la Tourette (1857–1904), who first described the syndrome in detail in 1885, naming it after his teacher, Charcot.
A neurological disorder characterized by involuntary tics and vocalizations.
Gilles de la tourette syndrome is usually technical/medical in register.
Gilles de la tourette syndrome: in British English it is pronounced /ˌʒiːl də læ tuːˈrɛt ˌsɪndrəʊm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌʒil də lə tʊˈrɛt ˌsɪndroʊm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None specific; the term itself is clinical]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember the French neurologist: Dr. Gilles DE LA Tourette. The 'de la' is part of his surname, not a separate preposition.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BODY IS AN UNCONTROLLABLE MACHINE (e.g., 'His tics were like a glitch in his system').
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common informal shortening of 'Gilles de la Tourette syndrome'?