n.
Pronunciation: ˌ in-( ˌ )flü- ' en-z ə
Function: noun
Etymology: Italian, literally, influence, from Medieval Latin influentia; from the belief that epidemics were due to the influence of the stars
Date: 1743
1 a : an acute highly contagious virus disease that is caused by any of three orthomyxoviruses ( Influenzavirus A, Influenzavirus B, and Influenzavirus C ) and that is characterized by sudden onset, fever, prostration, severe aches and pains, and progressive inflammation of the respiratory mucous membrance ― often used with letter A, B, or C to denote disease caused by a specific one of the three genera b : any of various human respiratory infections of undetermined cause ― not used technically
2 : any of numerous febrile usually virus diseases of domestic animals marked by respiratory symptoms, inflammation of mucous membranes, and often systemic involvement
– in · flu · en · zal \ -z ə l \ adjective