Miasma

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Miasma \Mi*as"ma\, n.; pl. {Miasmata}. [NL., fr. Gr. ?
     defilement, fr. ? to pollute.]
     Infectious particles or germs floating in the air; air made
     noxious by the presence of such particles or germs; noxious
     effluvia; malaria.
     [1913 Webster]



From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  miasma
       n 1: an unwholesome atmosphere; "the novel spun a miasma of death
            and decay"
       2: unhealthy vapors rising from the ground or other sources;
          "the miasma of the marshes"; "a miasma of cigar smoke"
       [also: {miasmata} (pl)]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  47 Moby Thesaurus words for "miasma":
     BO, afterdamp, bad breath, bad smell, blackdamp, body odor, breath,
     chokedamp, cloud, coal gas, damp, effluvium, exhalation, exhaust,
     exhaust gas, fetid air, fetidity, fetidness, fetor, firedamp,
     flatus, fluid, foul breath, foul odor, frowst, fume, graveolence,
     halitosis, malaria, malodor, mephitis, nidor, noxious stench,
     offensive odor, puff of smoke, reek, reeking, rotten smell, smoke,
     smudge, steam, stench, stench of decay, stink, vapor, volatile,
     water vapor