tuberculosis
noun
tu·ber·cu·lo·sis
tu̇-ˌbər-kyə-ˈlō-səs 
tyu̇-
plural tuberculoses
tu̇-ˌbər-kyə-ˈlō-ˌsēz
tyu̇-
: a highly variable communicable disease of humans and some other vertebrates that is caused by the tubercle bacillus and rarely in the U.S. by a related mycobacterium (Mycobacterium bovis), that affects especially the lungs but may spread to other areas (such as the kidney or spinal column), and that is characterized by fever, cough, difficulty in breathing, formation of tubercles, caseation, pleural effusions, and fibrosis
Examples of tuberculosis in a Sentence
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Beyond oncology, the platform has already demonstrated its ability to simultaneously profile both host and microbial RNAs in tuberculosis studies, offering insights into how pathogens interact with immune systems over time.
—
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2025
The bacteria that causes the disease, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, has haunted humanity for millennia, with traces found in Egyptian mummies.
—CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2025
After two biopsies, an MRI and several tests for tuberculosis, Shelrud was diagnosed with granulomatous mastitis.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
Pervasive uncertainty in the battle against HIV and other infectious diseases, including malaria and tuberculosis, lingers.
—Brian Simpson, NPR, 19 Sep. 2025
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Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2025
The bacteria that causes the disease, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, has haunted humanity for millennia, with traces found in Egyptian mummies.
—CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2025
After two biopsies, an MRI and several tests for tuberculosis, Shelrud was diagnosed with granulomatous mastitis.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
Pervasive uncertainty in the battle against HIV and other infectious diseases, including malaria and tuberculosis, lingers.
—Brian Simpson, NPR, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tuberculosis
Cite this Entry
“Tuberculosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tuberculosis. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tuberculosis
noun
tu·ber·cu·lo·sis
t(y)u̇-ˌbər-kyə-ˈlō-səs
: a disease of human beings and some other vertebrates caused by a bacterium and usually marked by wasting, fever, and formation of cheesy tubercles that in human beings occur mostly in the lungs
tuberculous
adjective
t(y)u̇-ˈbər-kyə-ləs
Medical Definition
tuberculosis
noun
tu·ber·cu·lo·sis
t(y)u̇-ˌbər-kyə-ˈlō-səs
plural tuberculoses
-ˌsēz
: a usually chronic highly variable disease that is caused by a bacterium of the genus Mycobacterium (M. tuberculosis) and rarely in the United States by a related mycobacterium (M. bovis), is usually communicated by inhalation of the airborne causative agent, affects especially the lungs but may spread to other areas (as the kidney or spinal column) from local lesions or by way of the lymph or blood vessels, and is characterized by fever, cough, difficulty in breathing, inflammatory infiltrations, formation of tubercles, caseation, pleural effusion, and fibrosis
called also TB
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