white plague

noun

Tuberculosis, especially of the lungs.

Similar
pulmonary tuberculosisconsumptionphthisiswasting diseasedrug addiction
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Meanings

nounwhite plague (uncountable)
  1. uncountablemedicineTuberculosis, especially of the lungs.
  2. uncountablebusinessThe white gold-aluminium intermetallic compound Au₅Al₂, which can be formed when gold and aluminium are heated in direct contact (for instance, at an electrical junction between gold and aluminium components).
    1. uncountablebusinessThe problems caused by the formation of this compound, including an increase in electrical resistance and formation of voids at the gold-aluminium junction, potentially culminating in total failure of the junction.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouninvolving the lungs with progressive wasting of the body

Similar
pulmonary tuberculosisconsumptionphthisiswasting disease
Broader
tuberculosisTBT.B.

nounan addiction to a drug (especially a narcotic drug)

Similar
drug addiction
Broader
addictiondependencedependance
Also see
consumptiondrug addictionphthisispulmonary tuberculosistuberculosiswasting disease

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

white+plague * (tuberculosis): From the white pallor of victims of the disease * (eletronics): From the colour of the deposits which cause electrical problems to plague devices

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

white plague. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/white%20plague

MLA

“white plague.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/white%20plague. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “white plague,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/white%20plague.

Source: white plague on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.