allergy
/ˈalədʒi
/noun (plural allergies)
1A damaging immune response by the body to a substance, especially a particular food, pollen, fur, or dust, to which it has become hypersensitive.Symptoms of a food allergy usually develop within about an hour after eating the offending food....
- A common skin symptom of a food allergy is hives, or raised red itchy bumps on the skin.
- Symptoms of mild food allergies, such as a rash or runny nose, may be treated with antihistamines.
Synonyms
hypersensitivity, sensitivity, susceptibility;
allergic reaction
1.1 informal A strong dislike: their allergy to free enterprise...
- Liberals also need to get over their allergy to the cleanest form of energy, nuclear power.
- Or they could have a combination of any of these with a severe allergy to math tables.
- If they achieve support because of their allergy to ID cards, then many people must have a lot to hide.
Synonyms
aversion, antipathy, opposition, hostility, antagonism;
dislike of, hate for, distaste for
archaic indisposition
Origin
Early 20th century: from German Allergie, from Greek allos 'other', on the pattern of Energie 'energy'.
There is a notion of something ‘alien’ present in allergy which comes from German Allergie, from Greek allos ‘other’. It was formed on the pattern of German Energie ‘energy’.