lupus

noun

lu·​pus ˈlü-pəs How to pronounce lupus (audio)
1
: any of several diseases characterized by skin lesions
2
Lupus astronomy : a southern constellation that is visible between the constellations of Scorpius and Centaurus and that is represented by the figure of a wolf
Above Lupus lies Scorpius, one of the few constellations whose star pattern actually suggests the object that it is named for. In the myths, the scorpion was assigned by Artemis, the hunting goddess, to kill Orion, far across the sky.Don Moser

Examples of lupus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Influential Selena Gomez: Megastar baring her humanness for half a billion to see June 9, 2024 Gomez has long been public about her physical and mental health conditions, including her battle with lupus and her experiences with bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression. Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024 For Braxton, the loss was especially profound—and compounded by her own health battles, including her ongoing fight with lupus and the recent placement of a stent in her heart to prevent a potentially fatal heart attack. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 29 Oct. 2024 Systemic lupus erythematosus, simply referred to as lupus, is a chronic autoimmune disease that occurs when the body's immune system attacks its own healthy tissues, according to the National Institutes of Health. Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 26 Sep. 2024 Image Piecing together the story of my father, the Black cowboy-musician Jimmy Holiday April 26, 2023 Smith began making her food from scratch after being diagnosed with lupus and eczema. Harmony Holiday, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for lupus 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin, from Latin, wolf

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lupus was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near lupus

Cite this Entry

“Lupus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lupus. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

lupus

noun
lu·​pus ˈlü-pəs How to pronounce lupus (audio)
: any of several diseases (as lupus vulgaris or systemic lupus erythematosus) characterized by skin lesions

More from Merriam-Webster on lupus

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