white plague
Tuberculosis, especially of the lungsTuberculosis, especially of the lungs.
Meaning
3 senses(uncountable)Tuberculosis, especially of the lungs.
involving the lungs with progressive wasting of the body
(uncountable)The white gold-aluminium intermetallic compound Au₅Al₂, which can be formed when gold and aluminium are heated in direct contact (for instance, at an electrical junction between gold and aluminium components).
The white gold-aluminium intermetallic compound Au₅Al₂, which can be formed when gold and aluminium are heated in direct contact (for instance, at an electrical junction between gold and aluminium components).
(uncountable)The problems caused by the formation of this compound, including an increase in electrical resistance and formation of voids at the gold-aluminium junction, potentially culminating in total failure of the junction.
Origin
white+plaguewhite+plague
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Synonyms
5 synonyms- an addiction to a drug (especially a narcotic drug):drug addiction
- involving the lungs with progressive wasting of the body:pulmonary tuberculosisconsumptionphthisiswasting disease
Lessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable