Definition of: malaria

(mə·lâr′ē·ə) noun
1. Pathol. A disease caused by any of certain animal parasites (genus Plasmodium), which are introduced into the system by the bite of the infected anopheles mosquito and invade the red corpuscles of the blood, causing intermittent chills and fever.
2. Any foul or unwholesome air, as from decomposition; miasma; mephitis. [<Ital. mal'aria, mala aria, lit., bad air]
—ma·lar′i·al, ma·lar′i·an, ma·lar′i.ous adjective