meningitis Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun infectious disease characterized by inflammation of the meninges (the tissues that surround the brain or spinal cord) usually caused by a bacterial infection; symptoms include headache and stiff neck and fever and nausea

WordNet

Men`in*gi"tis noun
Etymology
NL. See Meninges, and -itis.
Definitions
  1. (Med.) Inflammation of the membranes of the brain or spinal cord.

Webster 1913