myosis Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an acute infectious disease occurring in epidemic form and featuring paroxysms of pain (usually in the chest)
    diaphragmatic pleurisy; Bornholm disease; epidemic pleurodynia; epidemic myalgia.
  2. noun reflex contraction of the sphincter muscle of the iris in response to a bright light (or certain drugs) causing the pupil to become smaller
    miosis; pupillary reflex; light reflex.

WordNet

My*o"sis noun
Etymology
NL., fr. Gr. to close the eyes or lips.
Definitions
  1. (Med.) Long-continued contraction of the pupil of the eye.

Webster 1913