MIASMA (miasmata)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected form: miasmata   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does miasma mean? 

• MIASMA (noun)
  The noun MIASMA has 2 senses:

1. an unwholesome atmosphere

2. unhealthy vapors rising from the ground or other sources

  Familiarity information: MIASMA used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MIASMA (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An unwholesome atmosphere

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

miasm; miasma

Context example:

the novel spun a miasma of death and decay

Hypernyms ("miasma" is a kind of...):

ambiance; ambience; atmosphere (a particular environment or surrounding influence)

Derivation:

miasmic (of noxious stench from atmospheric pollution)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Unhealthy vapors rising from the ground or other sources

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

miasm; miasma

Context example:

a miasma of cigar smoke

Hypernyms ("miasma" is a kind of...):

air pollution (pollution of the atmosphere)

Derivation:

miasmal; miasmic (filled with vapor)

 Context examples 

There was an earthy smell, as of some dry miasma, which came through the fouler air.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)