difˈthirēə, ÷dipˈ-, -thēr- noun
( -s )
Etymology: New Latin, from French diphthérie, from Greek diphthera piece of leather (probably from depsein to knead) + French -ie -ia (from Latin -ia ); from the toughness of the false membrane; akin to Greek dialect (Argos) deph idastai (plural) fullers, Armenian top'el to beat
1. : an acute highly contagious disease chiefly of young children that is marked by the formation of a false membrane upon any mucous surface especially of the throat where it causes swelling and obstruction and possibly suffocation and that is caused by a bacterium ( Corynebacterium diphtheriae ) which produces a toxin causing inflammation of internal organs, especially the heart and nervous system
2. : any of several diseases of animals characterized by the formation of false membranes (as fowl pox and calf diphtheria)
• diph·the·ri·al (ˈ) ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷rēəl or diph·the·ri·an -ēən adjective