epidemic

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

▪ I. epi·dem·ic [epidemic epidemics] BrE [ˌepɪˈdemɪk] NAmE [ˌepɪˈdemɪk] noun
1. a large number of cases of a particular disease happening at the same time in a particular community
•the outbreak of a flu epidemic
•an epidemic of measles
•Effectively, tobacco companies will be exporting an epidemic of smoking-related diseases, the campaign suggests.
2. a sudden rapid increase in how often sth bad happens
•an epidemic of crime in the inner cities
compare ↑pandemic

Word Origin:
early 17th cent. (as an adjective): from French épidémique, from épidémie, via late Latin from Greek epidēmia ‘prevalence of disease’, from epidēmios ‘prevalent’, from epi ‘upon’ + dēmos ‘the people’.

Example Bank:
•Marriage breakdown in the West has reached epidemic proportions.
•Over fifty people died during the flu epidemic last winter.
•an epidemic of cholera
•the flu epidemic sweeping the country
•A recent report describes an epidemic of crime in the inner cities.
•An epidemic of measles broke out, and over 200 children died.
•Car theft is now reaching epidemic proportions.
•The worst flu epidemic for 14 years is sweeping the country.
 
▪ II. epi·dem·ic adjective
•Car theft is now reaching epidemic proportions.
Main entry: ↑epidemic_derived

• Từ trái nghĩa / Antonyms:
  endemic, endemical, ecdemic