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Glite Dictionary
equine encephalitis

equine encephalitis

1 8.5
A disease spread by mosquitoes from horses that causes swelling of the brain and can infect people
  • noun
  • /ˈɛkwɪn ɪnˈsɛfəlˌaɪtɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : encefalitis equina
  • Infected mosquitoes can transmit equine encephalitis to humans from infected horses.
  • eastern equine encephalitis
  • western equine encephalitis

Examples

  • The outbreak of equine encephalitis alarmed local farmers.

  • The latest research focuses on vaccines to prevent equine encephalitis in horses and humans.

  • Veterinarians are on alert for equine encephalitis outbreaks in the summer.

  • Widespread mosquito activity can increase the risk of equine encephalitis.

  • Many horses were affected by equine encephalitis last summer.

  • The doctor explained that equine encephalitis is a serious illness that causes brain inflammation and is spread by mosquitoes.

  • Residents were warned about outbreaks of equine encephalitis following an increase in mosquito populations in the area.

Synonyms

encephalitis
vsequine encephalitis
  • Specialized
16 8.6

A serious illness that makes the brain swell, often from a virus

is a viral illness transmitted by mosquitoes from horses
cephalitis
vsequine encephalitis
  • Specialized
9.9

A swelling and irritation of the brain usually caused by a virus

is a viral illness spread by mosquitoes from horses

Surface Forms

equine encephalitis singular
equine encephalitides plural

Morphology

equine + encephalitis

The meaning is directly compositional: 'equine' means relating to horses and 'encephalitis' means brain inflammation, so the phrase denotes inflammation of the brain in horses. This adjective + medical-noun pattern is regular and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Equine encephalitis literally joins equine ('horse') and encephalitis ('swelling of the brain'), so you can imagine a horse with a swollen brain. This image comes from viruses spread by mosquitoes that make horses' brains swell, so the name means a mosquito-spread brain disease in horses and sometimes in people.