(~s, plaguing, ~d)
1.
Plague or the ~ is a very infectious disease which usually results in death. The patient has a severe fever and swellings on his or her body.
...a fresh outbreak of ~.
N-UNCOUNT: also the N
2.
A ~ of unpleasant things is a large number of them that arrive or happen at the same time.
The city is under threat from a ~ of rats...
= epidemic
N-COUNT: N of n
3.
If you are ~d by unpleasant things, they continually cause you a lot of trouble or suffering.
She was ~d by weakness, fatigue, and dizziness...
Fears about job security ~ nearly half the workforce.
VERB: be V-ed by n, V n