Definition of syphilis Syphilis

/sɪˈfʌlɪs/ - [sifulis] - syph•i•lis

We found 7 definitions of syphilis from 7 different sources.

What does syphilis mean?

Noun Plural: syphilis
syphilis - a common venereal disease caused by the treponema pallidum spirochete; symptoms change through progressive stages; can be congenital (transmitted through the placenta)
		syph, pox, lues venerea, lues
		cupid's disease, venereal infection, venereal disease, vd, venus's curse, social disease, sexually transmitted disease, cupid's itch, std, dose a communicable infection transmitted by sexual intercourse or genital contact
		primary syphilis the first stage; characterized by a chancre at the site of infection
		secondary syphilis the second stage; characterized by eruptions of the skin and mucous membrane
		tertiary syphilis the third stage; characterized by involvement of internal organs especially the brain and spinal cord as well as the heart and liver
		neurosyphilis syphilis of the central nervous system

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syphilis (Noun)
A disease spread via sexual activity, caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum .

syphilis (n.)
The pox, or venereal disease; a chronic, specific, infectious disease, usually communicated by sexual intercourse or by hereditary transmission, and occurring in three stages known as primary, secondary, and tertiary syphilis. See under Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary.

syphilis
A sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. In the early stage of syphilis, a genital or mouth sore called a chancre develops, but eventually disappears on its own. However, if the disease is not treated, the infection can progress over years to affect the heart and central nervous system. Syphilis can also be transmitted from an infected mother to her fetus during pregnancy, with serious health consequences for the infant.

syphilis
sif′i-lis, n. a markedly contagious, infective, and inoculable disease, capable of being transmitted to the offspring, propagated by direct contagion or by the transmission of the virus through some vessel or medium which has recently been contaminated—most commonly caused by impure sexual intercourse.—n. Syphilisā′tion.—v.t. Syph′ilise, to attempt to inoculate the system with the virus of syphilis as a preventive and curative measure.—adj. Syphilit′ic.—n. Syphilog′raphy, the description of syphilis.—adj. Syph′iloid, relating to syphilis.—ns. Syphilol′ogist, one versed in syphilology; Syphilol′ogy, the knowledge of syphilis; Syphilō′ma, a syphilitic tumour; Syphilophō′bia, a morbid dread of contracting syphilis. [The word is borrowed from the name of a figure in Fracastoro's poem, Syphilidis Libri III.]

Syphilis is a disease. It is one of the sexually transmitted diseases. This means it can be spread by having sex. Condoms can prevent it from spreading.

The disease is caused by a bacterium, called "Treponema pallidum". Most transmissions occur through the sexual route. Very rarely, it can also be spread by direct contact, or from the mother to the child.

Since it is caused by a bacterium, the disease can be treated (and cured) by antibiotics, especially by penicillin.