measles: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to formal. Primarily medical/health register in its literal sense.
Quick answer
What does “measles” mean?
An infectious viral disease marked by fever and a distinctive red rash.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An infectious viral disease marked by fever and a distinctive red rash.
Can be used metaphorically to describe a scattering of small, red marks or a sudden outbreak of something undesirable.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. 'Rubeola' is a less common technical synonym in both varieties.
Connotations
Primarily negative, associated with childhood illness, public health campaigns, and vaccination.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties. The public health discourse is similar.
Grammar
How to Use “measles” in a Sentence
[Patient] HAS/CAUGHT measles[Agent] VACCINATES [Patient] AGAINST measlesThere IS/WAS an outbreak of measlesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “measles” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The child was measled and had to stay home.
- (archaic/rare)
American English
- (The verb form 'to measles' is virtually obsolete and not used in modern AmE.)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form derived from 'measles')
American English
- (No standard adverbial form derived from 'measles')
adjective
British English
- The patient presented with a measly rash.
- (Note: 'measly' more commonly means 'meagre'.)
American English
- The measly-looking spots confirmed the diagnosis.
- (rare/contextual)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in HR/health policy contexts regarding sick leave or vaccination requirements.
Academic
Common in medical, public health, and epidemiological texts.
Everyday
Common in discussions of children's health, vaccinations, and news about outbreaks.
Technical
Used precisely in virology and clinical medicine; distinctions made between rubeola (standard measles) and rubella (German measles).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “measles”
- Using with indefinite article: *'a measles' is incorrect. Use 'a case of measles'.
- Verb agreement: 'Measles is contagious' (correct), not *'Measles are contagious'.
- Confusing 'measles' (rubeola) with 'German measles' (rubella).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is grammatically singular (e.g., 'Measles is contagious'), despite the '-s' ending.
'Measles' (rubeola) is typically more severe. 'German measles' (rubella) is a different, usually milder viral illness, but dangerous for pregnant women.
It's very rare. One infection usually provides lifelong immunity.
Measles is highly contagious and can lead to serious complications like pneumonia and encephalitis. Vaccination protects individuals and creates herd immunity to protect those who cannot be vaccinated.
An infectious viral disease marked by fever and a distinctive red rash.
Measles is usually neutral to formal. primarily medical/health register in its literal sense. in register.
Measles: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmiːzəlz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmiːzəlz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Like a dose of measles (Austral./N.Z. inf.: someone or something unpleasant or unwanted)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the word 'ease' in the middle: "Measles makes you feel un-easy with red spots." The '-les' ending sounds like 'less health'.
Conceptual Metaphor
ILLNESS IS AN INVADER / SPOTS ARE A SURFACE ERUPTION.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most appropriate term for the standard form of measles?