miasma

English

WOTD – 31 January 2007    

Etymology

First attested in 1665. From Ancient Greek μίασμα (miasma) "stain, pollution".

Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /miˈæzmə/, /maɪˈæzmə/
• (US) enPR: mī-ăz'mə, mē- ăz'mə, IPA: /maɪˈæzmə/, /miˈæzmə/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æzmə
• Homophone: my asthma

Noun

miasma (plural miasmas or miasmata)

1. A noxious atmosphere or influence.
2. A noxious atmosphere or emanation once thought to originate from swamps and waste to cause disease.

Translations

noxious atmosphere or influence

• French: miasme (fr) m
• German: Miasma (de) n
• Khmer: please add this translation if you can

• Portuguese: miasma (pt) m
• Russian: миазм (ru) (miázm) m, миазма (ru) (miázma) f
• Spanish: miasma (es)

Quotations

• For usage examples of this term, see the citations page.

---

Italian

Noun

miasma m (plural miasmi)

1. miasma

---

Spanish

Noun

miasma m (plural miasmas)

1. miasma