Definition of "cholera" []

• An acute infectious disease of the small intestine, caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae and characterized by profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, muscle cramps, severe dehydration, and depletion of electrolytes. Also called Asiatic cholera. (noun)
• Any of various diseases of domesticated animals, such as chickens, turkeys, or hogs, marked by severe gastroenteritis. (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.

• "The dramatic loss of salt and water in cholera is a direct consequence of the action of cholera toxin on G-proteins."
• "Getty Images A child suffering from the symptoms of cholera is given fluid by a relative at a hospital in St. Marc."
• ""We've been planning hurricane preparedness for months, but to cope with that on top of cholera is hugely complex and demanding, and placing massive pressure on resources already stretched," said Imogen Wall, a spokeswoman for the United Nations 'Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs."