Vaccinia
noun ·4 syllables ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 An infection of cowpox. countable, uncountable
"On the other hand, Professor Heim inquired minutely into all the circumstances of the case, and says he is convinced of the variolation of the cow, and of the transmission from her of a disease similar to vaccinia."
- 2 a viral disease of cattle causing a mild skin disease affecting the udder; formerly used to inoculate humans against smallpox wordnet
- 3 A virus which causes this infection (Orthpoxvirus vaccinia). broadly, countable, uncountable
"Since then, a handful of vaccinia cases have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including one, described in the May 4 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, of vulvar infection in an Alaskan woman whose sex partner was a serviceman."
- 4 a local infection induced in humans by inoculation with the virus causing cowpox in order to confer resistance to smallpox; normally lasts three weeks and leaves a pitted scar wordnet
- 5 A closely related poxvirus, used as a smallpox vaccine. countable, uncountable
Example
More examples"On the other hand, Professor Heim inquired minutely into all the circumstances of the case, and says he is convinced of the variolation of the cow, and of the transmission from her of a disease similar to vaccinia."
Etymology
From Latin vaccinus + -ia.
More for "vaccinia"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.