tetanus

[tet-n-uhs]

noun

1. Pathology.,  an infectious, often fatal disease caused by a specific bacterium that enters the body through wounds and characterized by respiratory paralysis and tonic spasms and rigidity of the voluntary muscles, especially those of the neck and lower jaw.

2. Also called tetanus bacillus. Bacteriology.,  the bacterium, Clostridium tetani, causing this disease.

3. Physiology.,  a state of sustained contraction of a muscle during which the muscle does not relax to its initial length or tension, induced by a rapid succession of stimuli.

tetanus

/ ˈtɛtənəs /

noun

1. Also called: lockjaw. an acute infectious disease in which sustained muscular spasm, contraction, and convulsion are caused by the release of exotoxins from the bacterium, Clostridium tetani : infection usually occurs through a contaminated wound

2. physiol any tense contraction of a muscle, esp when produced by electric shocks

tetanus

1. An acute, often fatal infectious disease caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani, which usually enters the body through a wound and produces a toxin that affects nerve conduction. Tetanus is characterized by painful, spasmodic contractions of voluntary muscles, especially of the jaw.

tetanus

1. An acute and infectious disease caused by the toxin produced by a kind of bacteria that enters the body through cuts or wounds; also called lockjaw. In tetanus, the muscles of the body, particularly the muscles of the jaw, contract in painful spasms. Tetanus is deadly but can be prevented through immunization (tetanus shots).

Other Word Forms

• tetanal adjective
• tetanoid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tetanus¹

1350–1400; < Latin < Greek tétanos spasm (of muscles), tetanus; replacing Middle English tetane < Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of tetanus¹

C16: via Latin from Greek tetanos, from tetanos taut, from teinein to stretch

Example Sentences

Back then, pharmaceutical companies faced hundreds of lawsuits alleging that the vaccine protecting kids from whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus caused unrelenting seizures that led to severe disabilities.

From Salon

Ms King-Voisin was taken to A&E, where her wound was treated and she was given a tetanus jab.

From BBC

As early as 2 months old, babies get the first in a series of DTaP shots, which also protects against diphtheria and tetanus.

From Los Angeles Times

The school requires students in seventh grade and above to get their Tdap booster, which provides elevated immunity against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, or whooping cough.

From Los Angeles Times

I hope he gets tetanus of the balls,’” the complaint said.

From Los Angeles Times