diphtheria
/dɪpˈθɪərɪə/noun
mass noun
1- an acute and highly contagious bacterial disease causing inflammation of the mucous membranes, formation of a false membrane in the throat which hinders breathing and swallowing, and potentially fatal heart and nerve damage by a bacterial toxin in the blood. It is now rare in developed countries owing to immunization.白喉。
USAGE
In the past, diphtheria was correctly pronounced with an f sound representing the two letters ph （as in telephone, sulphur, and other ph words derived from Greek）. In recent years the pronunciation has shifted and today the most common pronunciation, no longer incorrect in standard English, is with a p sound.
派生词
diphtherial
adjectivediphtheritic
/ˌdɪpθɪˈrɪtɪk/ adjective词源
mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from French diphthérie （earlier diphthérite）, from Greek diphthera 'skin, hide'.