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Glite Dictionary
breakbone fever

breakbone fever

5.3
A tropical disease spread by mosquitoes that causes high fever, rash and very bad joint and muscle pain
  • noun
  • /ˈbreɪkˌboʊn ˈfiːvər/
  • Archaic
translation icon : fiebre del dengue
  • The severe joint pain caused by breakbone fever can last for weeks and is often debilitating.

Examples

  • Many tourists contract breakbone fever while visiting tropical regions.

  • Doctors recognized the symptoms of breakbone fever immediately due to the high fever and rash.

  • Some travelers returned from the Caribbean suffering from breakbone fever after being bitten by mosquitoes.

  • She was diagnosed with breakbone fever last summer.

  • Dengue fever, commonly referred to as breakbone fever, causes intense pain in the muscles and joints.

  • Many people experience severe headaches and joint pain when they contract breakbone fever.

  • Health experts warn that breakbone fever can lead to serious complications if not treated promptly.

Synonyms

dengue
vsbreakbone fever
  • Specialized
7 5.8

A tropical disease carried by mosquitoes that causes fever, rash, and very bad pain in the head and joints

is the longer, more descriptive name rather than the shorter form
dengue fever
vsbreakbone fever
  • Specialized
4 4.0

A disease in hot countries spread by mosquitoes that causes fever, rash and severe head and joint pain

has identical meaning but is a different name for the same disease
dandy fever
vsbreakbone fever
  • Archaic
8.6

A tropical disease spread by mosquitoes that causes fever, rash, and joint pain

is the different name for the same disease without any meaning change

Antonyms

health
∞ 1.0

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

wellness
52 3.2

Good physical and mental health that people try to keep

Surface Forms

breakbone fever singular
breakbone fevers plural

Morphology

breakbone + fever

The phrase literally combines 'break' + 'bone' + 'fever' to signal a fever associated with severe bone/joint pain, so a B1 learner who knows those constituents can infer it refers to an intensely painful fever. While 'breakbone' is figurative and the specific identity (dengue) might be unknown, the central meaning is compositionally derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Breakbone fever may come from the very strong pain people feel, because the words break and bone make a picture of bones breaking. That's why it now means a 'disease' spread by mosquitoes that causes very bad joint and muscle pain.