/too berr'kyeuh loh"sis, tyoo-/ , n. Pathol.
1. an infectious disease that may affect almost any tissue of the body, esp. the lungs, caused by the organism Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and characterized by tubercles.
2. this disease when affecting the lungs; pulmonary phthisis; consumption.
3. any disease caused by a mycobacterium. Also called TB (for defs. 1, 2).
[ 1855-60; tuberculosis; see TUBERCLE, -OSIS ]