an acute contagious disease caused by the bacillus Corynebacterium diphtheriae, producing fever, severe prostration, and difficulty in breathing and swallowing as the result of swelling of the throat and formation of a false membrane
Derived forms
diphtherial (diphˈtherial) or diphtheritic (ˌdɪpθəˈrɪtɪk, dɪf-) or diphtheric (dɪpˈθɛrɪk, dɪf-)
adjective
diphtheroid (ˈdiphtheˌroid)
adjective
Word origin
C19: New Latin, from French diphthérie, from Greek diphthera leather; from the nature of the membrane