Anthrax is a disease of cattle and sheep, in which they get painful sores and a fever. Anthrax can be used in biological weapons.
anthrax in British English
(ˈænθræks)
nounWord forms: plural-thraces (-θrəˌsiːz)
1.
a highly infectious and often fatal disease of herbivores, esp cattle and sheep, characterized by fever, enlarged spleen, and swelling of the throat. Carnivores are relatively resistant. It is caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis and can be transmitted to humans
2.
a pustule or other lesion caused by this disease
Word origin
C19: from Late Latin, from Greek: carbuncle
anthrax in American English
(ˈænˌθræks)
nounWord forms: pluralˈanthraˌces (ˈænθrəˌsiz)
1.
an infectious hemorrhagic disease of wild and domesticated animals, esp. cattle and sheep, which is caused by a bacillus (Bacillus anthracis) and can be transmitted to people: it is characterized by black pustules
2.
any such pustule
3.
blackleg (sense 1)
Word origin
ME antrax < L anthrax, virulent ulcer < Gr (burning) coal, hence ulcer, carbuncle
Examples of 'anthrax' in a sentence
anthrax
Proper cooking of meat will destroy anthrax spores.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The suspect was about to be charged for carrying out the anthrax attacks before he took an overdose of painkillers last week.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
A man is in intensive care after he inhaled anthrax spores from imported animal hides that were to be made into drums.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The marbles hit a screen installed in 2004 to protect MPs from an anthrax attack.
The Sun (2014)
AN A&E department was locked down yesterday in an anthrax scare - after workers at an art suppliers came in covered in white dust.