ˌinˌflüˈenzə noun
( -s )
Etymology: Italian, influence, epidemic, influenza, from Medieval Latin influentia influence; from the fact that epidemics were formerly attributed to the influence of the stars — more at influence
1. : an acute highly contagious infectious virus disease that occurs in endemic, epidemic, or pandemic forms, is characterized by sudden onset, fever, prostration, severe aches and pains, and progressive inflammation of the respiratory mucous membrane, and is frequently complicated by secondary infections (as pneumonia) ; broadly : a human respiratory infection of undetermined cause
2. : any of numerous febrile usually virus diseases (as shipping fever of horses, swine influenza, infectious laryngotracheitis of poultry) marked by respiratory symptoms, inflammation of mucous membranes, and varying degrees of systemic involvement
3. : a respiratory disease of dogs and cats that is perhaps identical with human influenza