| 释义 |
ep·i·dem·ic
I. \|epə|demik, -mēk\ adjective
also ep·i·dem·i·cal \-mə̇kəl, -mēk-\
Etymology: French épidémique, from Middle French epidemique, from epidemie epidemic (n.) (from Late Latin epidemia, from Greek epidēmia visit, epidemic, from epidēmos visiting, prevalent, epidemic — from epi- + dēmos deme, populace — + -ia -y) + -ique -ic, -ical — more at dem-
1.
a. of a communicable disease
(1) : affecting or tending to affect many persons within a community, area, or region at one time
< many children died that winter of epidemic fevers >
< typhoid was epidemic >
broadly : pandemic — distinguished from endemic
(2) : epiphytotic or epizootic — not used technically
b. : prevalent especially to a degree felt to be excessive
< padded shoulders became epidemic in the late thirties — Lois Long >
common; specifically of economic insects : present in such numbers as to constitute a plague
< this defoliator became epidemic in 1949 >
c. : contagious 3
< an epidemic personality >
< epidemic laughter >
2. : of, relating to, or constituting an epidemic
< the outbreak was of epidemic proportions >
< the epidemic phase of the grasshopper cycle >
• ep·i·dem·i·cal·ly \-mə̇k(ə)lē, -mēk-, -li\ adverb
II. noun
(-s)
1.
a. : an outbreak of epidemic disease
< the Indonesian malaria epidemic >
< plagues, epidemics, heat, and other trials >
b. : an outbreak of something felt to resemble an epidemic disease especially in its rapid spread
< harnessed Niagara did not start a hydroelectric epidemic — Roger Burlingame >
< the ugly epidemic of rioting which flared clear across the nation — E.A.Gray >
2. : a product of epidemic spread, growth, or development; specifically : a natural population (as of insects) suddenly and greatly enlarged |