plague Definition

plague
noun

1a. medicine.
Any of several epidemic diseases with a high mortality rate;
1b. medicine.
Specifically, an infectious epidemic disease of rats and other rodents, caused by a bacterium and transmitted to humans by flea bites, eg bubonic plague.
2. An overwhelming intrusion by something unwelcome.

Example: a plague of tourists
3. colloq
A nuisance.
4. An affliction regarded as a sign of divine displeasure.

Example: a plague on both your houses
Thesaurus: pestilence, bane, blight, affliction, scourge.

verb plagued, plaguing

1. To afflict someone.

Example: plagued by headaches
2. To pester someone; to annoy them continually.

Thesaurus: disturb, trouble, bother, harry, annoy, afflict, pester, vex, beset, harass.

Idiom: avoid something like the plague

To keep well away from it; to shun it absolutely.

Etymology: 14c: from Latin plaga blow, disaster or pestilence.