infectious disease of throat: a serious infectious disease, caused by a bacterium, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, that attacks the membranes of the throat and releases a toxin that damages the heart and the nervous system. The main symptoms are fever, weakness, and severe inflammation of the affected membranes.
[Mid-19th century. < modern Latin< Greek diphthera, diphtheris "hide, skin," indicating the tough membrane developed in the throat]
