AIDS

noun \ˈādz\

: a serious disease of the immune system that is caused by infection with a virus

Full Definition of AIDS

: a disease of the human immune system that is characterized cytologically especially by reduction in the numbers of CD4-bearing helper T cells to 20 percent or less of normal thereby rendering the subject highly vulnerable to life-threatening conditions (as Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia) and to some (as Kaposi's sarcoma) that become life-threatening and that is caused by infection with HIV commonly transmitted in infected blood especially during illicit intravenous drug use and in bodily secretions (as semen) during sexual intercourse

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Origin of AIDS

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

First Known Use: 1982

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

Rhymes with AIDS

Glades

AIDS Defined for Kids

AIDS

noun \ˈādz\

Definition of AIDS for Kids

: a serious disease of the human immune system in which large numbers of the cells that help the body fight infection are destroyed by the HIV virus carried in the blood and other fluids of the body

Medical Dictionary

AIDS

noun \ˈādz\

Medical Definition of AIDS

: a disease of the human immune system that is characterized cytologically especially by a reduction in the numbers of CD4-bearing helper T cells to 20 percent or less of normal thereby rendering the subject highly vulnerable to life-threatening conditions (as Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia) and to some that become life threatening (as Kaposi's sarcoma) and that is caused by infection with HIV commonly transmitted in infected blood especially during illicit intravenous drug use and in bodily secretions (as semen) during sexual intercourse—called also acquired immune deficiency syndrome, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome