anthrax — English Dictionary

Noun

1. An acute infectious disease of herbivores, especially sheep and cattle, caused by Bacillus anthracis.

   Usage

   • Uncountable
   • usually

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   After anthrax spores were found in letters sent to Sens. Patrick Leahy and Thomas Daschle in 2001, Congress began screening all the mail that came into the building.

2. The human disease that can occur in humans through contact with infected herbivores, tissue from infected animals, or high concentrations of anthrax spores, but is not usually spread between humans, with symptoms including lesions on the skin or in the lungs, often fatal.

   Usage

   • Uncountable
   • usually

Noun

1. a highly infectious animal disease (especially cattle and sheep); it can be transmitted to people

   Synonyms

   splenic fever

   Broader terms

   zoonosiszoonotic disease

2. a disease of humans that is not communicable; caused by infection with Bacillus anthracis followed by septicemia

   Broader terms

   disease