Pronunciation: /kaʊˌpɑks/

Definitions of cowpox

noun a mild form of smallpox virus used in the past for vaccination against smallpox

Example Sentences

A1 Cowpox is a viral disease that affects cows.

A2 The discovery of cowpox by Edward Jenner led to the development of the smallpox vaccine.

B1 People in the 18th century used cowpox to protect themselves against smallpox.

B2 The transmission of cowpox from cows to humans was an important breakthrough in medical history.

C1 Scientists continue to study the mechanisms of cowpox infection in order to develop new vaccines.

C2 The eradication of cowpox in livestock has greatly reduced the risk of zoonotic transmission to humans.

Examples of cowpox in a Sentence

formal Cowpox is a viral disease that affects cows and can be transmitted to humans.

informal I heard that cowpox can be passed from cows to humans, but it's not very common.

slang Did you know that cowpox is like a weird cow version of chickenpox?

figurative Her patience was like cowpox, slowly building immunity to frustration over time.

Grammatical Forms of cowpox

plural

cowpoxes

comparative

more cowpox

superlative

most cowpox

present tense

cowpox

future tense

will cowpox

perfect tense

have cowpoxed

continuous tense

is cowpoxing

singular

cowpox

positive degree

cowpox

infinitive

to cowpox

gerund

cowpoxing

participle

cowpoxed

Origin and Evolution of cowpox

First Known Use: 1798 year
Language of Origin: English
Story behind the word: The word 'cowpox' originated from the combination of 'cow' and 'pox', referring to a disease affecting cows that was similar to smallpox.
Evolution of the word: Initially used to describe a disease affecting cows, the term 'cowpox' later became associated with the smallpox vaccination developed by Edward Jenner in the late 18th century. Over time, the focus shifted from its impact on cows to its importance in the history of medicine as a key development in the field of immunization.