noun

malaria

malaria

Malaria is a serious disease spread by mosquitoes.

Malaria is a serious disease spread by mosquitoes.

He took medicine to prevent malaria.

He took medicine to prevent malaria.

((uncountable)) a disease spread by mosquitoes Malaria is common in tropical regions.

Synonyms: fever, illness, disease

From Italian 'mala aria', meaning 'bad air', because it was formerly thought to be caused by bad air from swamps.

Break it down: 'mal' (bad) + 'aria' (air). Picture the 'bad air' from a swamp where mosquitoes breed.

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