anthrax

UK: /ˈænθræks/ US: /ˈænθræks/ ,(an′thraks)

Inflections of 'anthrax' (n): npl: anthraces

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

an•thrax /ˈænθræks/   n. [uncountable] , pl. -thra•ces 

/-θrəˌsiz/.  
1. Pathology an infectious disease of cattle, sheep, and other mammals that can be transmitted to humans, as by handling infected wool, and that is marked by skin ulcers.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

an•thrax  (an′thraks), n., pl. -thra•ces (-thrə sēz′). [Pathol.]

1. Pathology an infectious, often fatal disease of cattle, sheep, and other mammals, caused by Bacillus anthracis, transmitted to humans by contaminated wool, raw meat, or other animal products.
2. Pathology a malignant carbuncle that is the diagnostic lesion of anthrax disease in humans.

• Greek ánthrax a coal, carbuncle
• Latin anthrax carbuncle
• Middle English antrax malignant boil or growth 1350–1400

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

anthrax / ˈænθræks/ noun ( -thraces / -θrəˌsiːz/)

1. a highly infectious and often fatal disease of herbivores, esp cattle and sheep, characterized by fever, enlarged spleen, and swelling of the throat. Carnivores are relatively resistant. It is caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis and can be transmitted to humans
2. a pustule or other lesion caused by this disease

Etymology: 19th Century: from Late Latin, from Greek: carbuncle