/ pleɪg; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
(also the plague ) [ U ] = bubonic plague :
an outbreak of plague
2.
[ C ] any infectious disease that kills a lot of people
SYN epidemic :
the plague of AIDS
3.
[ C ] plague of sth large numbers of an animal or insect that come into an area and cause great damage :
a plague of locusts / rats, etc.
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IDIOMS
see avoid
■ verb [ vn ] plague sb/sth (with sth)
1.
to cause pain or trouble to sb/sth over a period of time
SYN trouble :
to be plagued by doubt
Financial problems are plaguing the company.
The team has been plagued by injury this season.
2.
to annoy sb or create problems, especially by asking for sth, demanding attention, etc.
SYN hound :
Rock stars have to get used to being plagued by autograph hunters.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : Latin plaga stroke, wound, probably from Greek ( Doric dialect) plaga , from a base meaning strike.