tetanus

Meaning

1. (uncountable, usually) A serious and often fatal disease caused by the infection of an open wound with the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani, found in soil and the intestines and faeces of animals.
2. (countable, usually) A state of muscle tension caused by sustained contraction arising from a rapid series of nerve impulses which do not allow the muscle to relax.

Synonyms

lockjaw

lock-jaw

spasm

meningitis

lock jaw

convulsion

intermittent tetanus

convulsions

Translations

tétanos

Tetanus

tetano

tétanos

Wundstarrkrampf

tétano

tétano

τέτανος

tetanus

Starrkrampf

tetanus

كزاز

tètanus

tetanos

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈtɛt.ən.əs/

Etymology

From Latin tetanus, from Ancient Greek τέτανος (tétanos), from τείνω (teínō, “I stretch”).