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flu

flu

354 1.0
A common contagious illness that causes fever, aches, and coughs
  • noun
  • /flu/
translation icon : gripe
  • Hey, would you like to get your flu shot today?
  • flu vaccine
  • flu shot
  • flu vaccination

But again, if it's the Spanish flu, then it's different.

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Examples

  • Protecting children against flu also limits the spread among family members and the wider community.

    Academic text (2012)
  • She decided to stay home from work because she was feeling really sick with flu.

  • You have the flu, you have a temperature.

  • Once he came to school with the flu, and we had to send him home.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Thanks, but we're all down with the flu.

  • So the seasonal flu kills way more than that.

  • I never quite recovered from the flu this spring, and I hated to leave you.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • In a typical flu season, productivity costs are ten times greater than all other flu-related costs combined.

    Academic text (2005)
  • There's a lot of flu going around this time of year, isn't that so?

  • Many readers may have experienced a flu-like illness for which they visited a medical office for evaluation.

    Academic text (2013)

Synonyms

influenza
vsflu
  • Specialized
50 3.3

A contagious illness caused by a virus that gives fever, body aches, and cough

is the common everyday name rather than the formal medical label
grippe
vsflu
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A contagious illness like the flu that causes fever and cough

is the modern common name not the older dated term

Antonyms

1.0

The condition of a person's body and mind, especially being free from illness or injury

52 3.2

Good physical and mental health that people try to keep

Idioms

Sick with the flu and unable to go out

Compounds

swine flu
  • Specialized
13 3.2

A disease from pigs that can spread to people and causes fever and cough

stomach flu
  • Informal
9 2.5

An illness that makes your stomach and intestines sore and swollen, causing vomiting and diarrhea

5 2.8

A large outbreak of flu that affects many people in one area

9.9

A hangover after drinking too much beer

camel flu
  • Specialized
6.7

A lung disease caused by a virus that people can catch from camels

cocktail flu
  • Informal
9.2

A mild illness or hangover after drinking many mixed drinks

diplomatic flu
  • Informal
8.7

A feeling of being very tired and stressed after long talks between countries

Egyptian flu
  • Informal
9.1

A joking name for mild flu-like sickness people get after travel to Egypt

A type of flu first identified in 1957 that caused a worldwide outbreak

Flu Manchu
  • Slang
9.9

A funny name for someone who looks very sick with the flu or for a widespread flu outbreak

A serious illness with high fever, cough and strong body aches

kung flu
  • Slur
9.9

A rude name for the virus that blames Chinese people

man flu
  • Offensive
8.6

A joking name people use for a man's mild cold when he complains a lot

An infection of the stomach and intestines that causes vomiting and diarrhea

How Severe

flu
354 1.0

Surface Forms

flu singular
flus plural

Etymology

Flu is short for influenza, which comes from an Italian word that meant 'influence'. People once thought the stars' 'influence' could make people sick, so influenza became the name for this illness and today we simply call it flu.