po ‧ li ‧ o /ˈpəʊliəʊ $ ˈpoʊlioʊ/ BrE AmE ( also po‧li‧o‧my‧e‧li‧tis /ˌpəʊliəʊmaɪəˈlaɪtəs, ˌpəʊliəʊmaɪəˈlaɪtɪs $ ˌpoʊlioʊ-/ technical ) noun [uncountable]
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Language: Modern Latin ; Origin: poliomyelitis , from Greek polios 'gray' + myelos 'bone marrow' ]
a serious infectious disease of the nerves in the ↑ spine , that often results in someone being permanently unable to move particular muscles