filaria

noun

fi·​lar·​ia fə-ˈler-ē-ə How to pronounce filaria (audio)
: any of numerous slender filamentous nematodes (Filaria, Wuchereria, and related genera) that as adults are parasites in the blood or tissues of mammals and as larvae usually develop in biting insects
filarial adjective
filariid adjective or noun

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, genus name, from Latin filum

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of filaria was in 1833

Dictionary Entries Near filaria

Cite this Entry

“Filaria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/filaria. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

filaria

noun
fi·​lar·​ia fə-ˈlar-ē-ə, -ˈler- How to pronounce filaria (audio)
1
plural filariae -ē-ˌē How to pronounce filaria (audio) -ˌī How to pronounce filaria (audio) : any of numerous slender filamentous nematodes that as adults are parasites in the blood or tissues of birds or mammals and as larvae usually develop in biting insects (as fleas or mosquitoes) that belong to the superfamily Filarioidea, and that for the most part were once included in the genus Filaria but are now divided among various genera (as Wuchereria and Onchocerca)
2
capitalized in former classifications : a genus of nematodes that included most of the filarial worms
filarial adjective
filarial worms
filarial disease
filarial vectors
Last Updated: - Definition revised
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!