influenza
Translation
influenza, flu
Examples
He is off work with influenza.
He is off work with influenza.
The influenza epidemic was severe last winter.
The influenza epidemic was severe last winter.
Grammar Patterns
to have/catch influenza to be ill with influenza. Many people catch influenza in winter.
Similar Words
Synonyms: flu, grippe
Etymology
From Italian 'influenza', meaning 'influence' (of the stars), as outbreaks were once attributed to astrological influence.
Memory Tips
Imagine the 'influence' of a virus spreading through a population. The word is often shortened to 'flu'.