English · Body & Health
flu
/fluː/
[/fluː/]
influenza illness
Beginnernoun
Definition
A common infectious illness causing fever, aches, and tiredness; short for influenza.
Example
The whole office came down with the flu during the cold winter weeks.
The whole office came down with the flu during the cold winter weeks.
Etymology
Shortened from Italian 'influenza', meaning influence.
How & Where It’s Used
More severe than a cold; an annual vaccine is widely offered.