tetanus

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Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ˈtɛt.ən.əs/
• (GA) IPA: /ˈtɛt.ən.əs/, /ˈtɛt.nəs/

Noun

tetanus (uncountable)

1. (pathology, countable) 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. (physiology, countable) 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

• (disease caused by Clostridium tetani) lockjaw

Translations

• French: tétanos
• German: Tetanus, Wundstarrkrampf
• Italian: tetano
• Portuguese: tétano
• Russian: столбня́к
• Spanish: tétanos

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