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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

tetanus

/ˈtɛt.ən.əs/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:33
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What does tetanus mean?

noun

  1. A serious and often fatal disease caused by the infection of an open wound with the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani, found in soil and the intestines and faeces of animals.
  2. A state of muscle tension caused by sustained contraction arising from a rapid series of nerve impulses which do not allow the muscle to relax.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ˈtɛt.ən.əs/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Other dictionary pronunciations

/ˈtɛt.nəs/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

The most painful are caused by wind generated within the body, which gets about the great sinews of the shoulders—these are termed tetanus.
PlatoTimaeusTranslated by Benjamin JowettProject Gutenberg ebook #1572
In docking, it will be found perfectly practicable: our patients will escape much torture, and tetanus will often be avoided.
William YouattThe DogProject Gutenberg ebook #9478
More book examples (2)
There was no history of syphilis nor of any eruptive fever in the mother, who died on the tenth day with tetanus.
George M. (George Milbrey) Gould; Walter L. (Walter Lytle) PyleAnomalies and Curiosities of MedicineProject Gutenberg ebook #747
Even when well established, laminitis has been mistaken for paralysis, for tetanus, for rheumatic affections of the loins, or even for some undiscovered affection of the muscles of the arms and chest.
H. Caulton (Harry Caulton) ReeksDiseases of the Horse's FootProject Gutenberg ebook #11204