filaria

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: fi=lar=i=a

CIDE DICTIONARY

filaria, n. [NL., fr. L. filum a thread.].

 a small, slender nematode worm of the family Onchocercidae (Filariidae) of many species, parasitic when adult in various animals, including man. They may live within the blood, or in other bodily fluids, or within tissues or cavities of the body. Infection with such organisms may be transmitted by blood-sucking arthropods.  [1913 Webster]

filaria, n. [NL., fr. L. filum a thread.].

 a former genus comprised of certain nematodes, now classed as belonging to several genera within the family Onchocercidae. See Onchocerca and Guinea worm.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

filaria, n. (pl. filariae) any threadlike parasitic nematode worm of the family Filariidae introduced into the blood by certain biting flies and mosquitoes.

Derivative

filarial adj.

Etymology

mod.L f. L filum thread