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epidemic

noun [C] (DISEASE)
 
 
/ˌep.ɪˈdem.ɪk/

Definition

the appearance of a particular disease in a large number of people at the same time: a flu/AIDS epidemicPassing on illness and causing disease
(Definition of epidemic noun (DISEASE) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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