n.
Pronunciation: m ī - ' az-m ə , m ē -
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -mas also -ma · ta \ -m ə -t ə \
Etymology: New Latin, from Greek, defilement, from miainein to pollute
Date: 1665
1 : a vaporous exhalation formerly believed to cause disease also : a heavy vaporous emanation or atmosphere <a miasma of tobacco smoke>
2 : an influence or atmosphere that tends to deplete or corrupt <freed from the miasma of poverty ― Sir Arthur Bryant> also : an atmosphere that obscures : FOG
– mi · as · mal \ -m ə l \ adjective
– mi · as · mat · ic \ ˌ m ī - ə z- ' ma-tik \ adjective
– mi · as · mic \ m ī - ' az-mik, m ē - \ adjective
– mi · as · mi · cal · ly \ -mi-k( ə -)l ē \ adverb