Definition of "measles" []

• An acute, contagious viral disease, usually occurring in childhood and characterized by eruption of red spots on the skin, fever, and catarrhal symptoms. Also called rubeola. (noun)
• Black measles. (noun)
• Any of several other diseases, especially German measles, that cause similar but milder symptoms. (noun)
• A disease of cattle and swine caused by tapeworm larvae. (noun)
• A plant disease, usually caused by fungi, that produces minute spots on leaves and stems. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "After all, measles is estimated to have wiped out more than half the Native American population, and was documented in decimating the Hawaiian population."
• "The department said measles is a highly contagious illness that is spread through coughs, sneezes and contact with nasal or oral secretions from people who were infected."
• "While we are on the verge of eliminating measles from the United States, increased travel can lead tospread from other countriesas evidenced by a measles outbreak associated with an international youth sporting eventthat occurred in three states in the U.S. during the fall of2007."