plague

Word family

Related topics: Illness & disability

plague1 /pleɪɡ/ noun

1 [countableC]MI a disease that causes death and spreads quickly to a large number of people 瘟疫，疫病

drops in population levels due to plagues and famines

瘟疫和饥荒造成的人口水平下降

2 [uncountableU] (also the plague)MI a very infectious disease that produces high fever and swollen places on the body, and often leads to death, especially bubonic plague 鼠疫〔尤指腺鼠疫〕 → Black Death

The plague caused 100,000 deaths in London alone in the 1600s.

17 世纪，鼠疫仅在伦敦一地就造成了10万人死亡。

3 a plague of rats/locusts etc INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNTan uncontrolled and harmful increase in the numbers of a particular animal or insect 鼠灾/蝗灾等

A plague of squirrels is threatening our forests.

松鼠灾害正在威胁我们的森林。

Examples from the Corpus

a plague of rats/locusts etc• From Tracy Luv to Sarah-Lou, Corrie kids are as well-behaved as a plague of locusts.• I wonder what really causes a plague of rats?

→ avoid somebody/something like the plague at avoid(2)

Examples from the Corpus

plague• Meanwhile she was not to set foot outside the door, as a plague of field-mice infested the estate.• There are now three people dead - it's like a plague that's struck the whole Lossie complex.• Though relatively healthy animals, state health officials warn that they are notoriously susceptible to bubonic plague.• His speech carried a surprising pledge to end by March a nationwide plague of salary arrears.• an outbreak of plague• AIDS has been called a sexual plague.• I was not comfortable talking to kids, particularly boys, and I avoided the older ones like the plague.• The plague spreads: more atoms split, and then yet more.• Yet the final image of him working with plague victims transforms him into a heroic character.

plague2 verb [transitiveT]

1 SUFFERto cause pain, suffering, or trouble to someone, especially for a long period of time 不断困扰，折磨，使苦恼

be plagued by/with something

He was plagued by eye troubles.

他饱受眼疾困扰。

Financial problems continued to plague the company.

资金问题持续困扰着该公司。

n Grammar

Plague is often passive in this meaning.

2 ANNOYto annoy someone, especially by asking for something many times or asking them many questions 〔尤指通过不断索要或提问来〕使烦恼[生气]，打搅

plague somebody with something

The kids have been plaguing me with questions.

孩子们一直缠着我问问题。

Examples from the Corpus

plague• Elway has been plagued all season by back problems.• Nevertheless the Republicans, plagued by continuing factional disputes over strategy, tactics and supply, proved unable to recapture lost territory.• Wanda Kaczynski is plagued by guilt.• Fires continued to burn elsewhere in the West in states plagued by one of the worst droughts of the century.• The area is plagued by soil erosion and flooding.• Louka is also plagued by the police who are very suspicious about his bogus marriage.• Some say these were sent by the Witch King to plague him.• Price inflation plagued the distribution of imported goods and was aggravated by bottlenecks in ports like Khorramshahr and beyond.• Perhaps the most noticeable earnings problem has plagued the semiconductor group, the hottest sector through the first three quarters of 1995.• Heavy rains continue to plague the state.• Social problems plague these low-income communities.• Frederick was plagued with one illness after another throughout his childhood, mainly suffering from asthma and other breathing problems.

be plagued by/with something• Diem was plagued by chaos throughout the summer.• Early versions were plagued by clogged print heads, blurry prints and a tendency to smudge.• They've got to learn that this business is plagued with fantasists and people with grudges.• Wanda Kaczynski is plagued by guilt.• The Highlands has one of the highest suicide rates in the country and is plagued by huge numbers of fatal accidents.• Frederick was plagued with one illness after another throughout his childhood, mainly suffering from asthma and other breathing problems.• Yes, we defeated the United States, but now we are plagued by problems.• But hardly had it reached our screens last July than it was plagued by troubles and controversy.

plague somebody with something• The kids have been plaguing me with questions.

Origin plague1

(1300-1400) Old French plage, from Latin plaga “hit, wound”

plague1 nounplague2 verb →n GRAMMAR1

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