Introduction

This glossary is a medical glossary focusing on Coronavirus-related terms. This specific field is
chosen to help adult researchers and university students, in any field, who are searching or writing
about coronavirus or any other related diseases. It provides specialised terminology of vaccines,
diseases, viruses and health problems connected to Coronavirus with a total of 56 terms. The
glossary is compiled using Sketch Engine tool to extract the terminology from five recent medical
articles and research papers about Coronavirus; these are published within the last three years. The
meanings of these terms are quoted from three specialised glossaries and two general dictionaries.
All the used materials are provided in the references page.

The organization of this glossary is as follows: terms are in an alphabetical order; word class is
mentioned (noticing that any term that has more than one word class or meaning is highlighted, and
both word classes and definitions are provided); a hyperlinked pronunciation of the IPA phonetical
transcription from Cambridge Dictionary is provided (for words not extracted from a British
Dictionary); terms are defined using simplified definition/s (where other specialised words
mentioned in the definition are hyperlinked); finally, a link to the glossary or dictionary used to
extract the meaning is provided for acquiring further knowledge. It is preferable to use this glossary
online to benefit from its features.

Format:

Term Word class /Transcription/ Definition Link

More than one meaning is presented as follows:

1-

2-

Words or transcription with underline are hyperlinked

Ex: /ˌædɪnəʊˈvaɪrəs/ & lymphocytes

to follow link: press ctrl + left click on the word
Abbreviations:

n. Noun

adj. Adjective

Transcription Key:
 Word Word Pronunciation Definition Link
class

1 Acute respiratory n. /əˈkjuːt rɪˈspɪrətᵊri A respiratory failure of sudden onset in https://

www.merriam-
dɪsˈtrɛs ˈsɪndrəʊm / adults or children that follows injury to the
distress syndrome endothelium of the lung and results in the
webster.com/
dictionary/acute
(ARDS) accumulation of protein-rich fluid and the %20respiratory
collapse of alveoli leading to difficult, rapid %20distress
breathing and very low levels of oxygen in
the blood.

2 Adenovirus n. /ˌædɪnəʊˈvaɪrəs/ Any of a family (Adenoviridae) of double- https://

www.merriam-
stranded DNA viruses originally identified
webster.com/
in human adenoid tissue, causing infections dictionary/
of the respiratory system, conjunctiva, and adenovirus
gastrointestinal tract, and including some
capable of inducing malignant tumors in
experimental animals.

3 Anti-vaccine adj. /ˈænti-ˈvæksiːn / Opposed to vaccines or vaccination. https://

www.oed.com/
search/dictionary/?
scope=Entries&q=a
nti-vaccine

4 Anti-vaxxer n. /ˌæn.tiˈvæks.ər/ A person opposed to vaccination. Often https://

www.oed.com/
contrasted with vaxxer.
search/dictionary/?
scope=Entries&q=a
nti-vaxxer

5 Asymptomatic adj. /eɪ.sɪmp.təˈmæt.ɪk / Without symptoms; producing or exhibiting https://

www.oed.com/
no symptoms.
search/dictionary/?
scope=Entries&q=a
symptomatic

6 Blood plasma n. /blʌd ˈplæzmə / The pale-yellow fluid of whole blood that https://
www.merriam-
consists of water and its dissolved
webster.com/
constituents including especially proteins dictionary/blood
(such as albumin, fibrinogen, and %20plasma
globulins).

7 Cardiac n. /ˈkɑː.di.æk / Having to do with the heart or, less https://

familydoctor.org/
commonly, the upper portion of the
your-health-
stomach. resources/health-
tools/dictionary/?
alpha=C

8 Coagulation n. /kəʊˌæg.jəˈleɪ.ʃən / The process of becoming viscous or https://

www.merriam-
thickened into a coherent mass: the forming
webster.com/
of clots (as in blood or cream): the process dictionary/
of coagulating. coagulation
9 Coronavirus n. /kəˈrəʊ.nəˌvaɪə.rəs / A family of related viruses. Many of them https://
uvahealth.com/
cause respiratory illnesses. Coronaviruses
services/covid19-
cause COVID-19, SARS, MERS, and some glossary
strains of influenza, or flu. The coronavirus
that causes COVID-19 is officially called
SARS-CoV-2, which stands for severe acute
respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

10 COVID-19 n. /ˌkəʊ.vɪd.naɪnˈtiːn / A new, infectious disease caused by the https://

www.nps.org.au/
coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The name
glossary#a-e
COVID-19 comes from Coronavirus
disease 2019.

11 Convalescent plasma n. /ˌkɒnvəˈlɛsᵊnt A blood plasma that is obtained from an https://

www.merriam-
ˈplæzmə / individual who has recovered from an
webster.com/
infectious disease and contains antibodies dictionary/
against the infectious agent of the disease convalescent
and may be administered by intravenous %20plasma
transfusion to prevent or treat infection in
other individuals.

12 Cytokine n. /ˈsaɪ.tə.kaɪn / Proteins in the body that act as messengers https://

www.health.harvard
between immune system cells.
.edu/a-through-c

13 Dimer n. /ˈdʌɪmə/ A compound formed by the union of two https://

www.merriam-
radicals or two molecules of a simpler
webster.com/
compound; a polymer formed from two dictionary/dimer
molecules of a monomer.

14 Delta variant n. /ˈdel.tə ˈveə.ri.ənt/ A highly transmissible genetic variant of the https://
www.merriam-
SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
webster.com/
dictionary/delta
%20variant

15 Extracorporeal n. /ˌekstrəkɔːˈpɔːriəl Treatment providing respiratory and https://

www.merriam-
ˈmembreɪn ˌɒksɪdʒə circulatory support for a patient that
Membrane ˈneɪʃn/ involves pumping blood from the body and
webster.com/
medical/
Oxygenation (ECMO) through a membrane oxygenator to extracorporeal
exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen and a %20membrane
%20oxygenation
heat exchanger to cool or warm the blood
before returning it to the body.

16 Efficacious adj. /ˌef.ɪˈkeɪ.ʃəs / That produces, or is certain to produce, the https://

www.oed.com/
intended or appropriate effect; effective.
search/dictionary/?
scope=Entries&q=e
fficacious
17 Epidemiology n. /ˌep.ɪ.diː.miˈɒl.ə.dʒi/ 1- A branch of medical science https://
www.merriam-
that deals with the
webster.com/
incidence, distribution, and dictionary/
control of disease in a epidemiology
population.

2- The sum of the factors

controlling the presence or
absence of a disease or
pathogen.

18 Host cell n. /həʊst sel / A living cell invaded by or capable of https://

www.merriam-
being invaded by an infectious agent
webster.com/
(such as a bacterium or a virus). dictionary/host
%20cell

19 Hypoxia n. /haɪˈpɒk.si.ə/ A deficiency of oxygen reaching the https://

www.merriam-
tissues of the body.
webster.com/
dictionary/hypoxia

20 Immunization n. /ˌim.jə.naɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/ Injection of harmless bacteria or https://

www.health.harvard
viruses to spur the body to produce
.edu/d-through-i#I-
antibodies so it can resist a particular terms
disease.

21 Immunocompromised adj. /ˌɪm.jə.nəʊˈkɒm.prə.maɪzd/ This describes someone who has an https://

uvahealth.com/
immune system that can't resist or
services/covid19-
fight off infections as well as most glossary
people. Also called immune-
compromised or immunodeficient.

22 Immunomodulator n. /ˌɪmjᵿnəʊˈmɒdjᵿleɪtə/ A substance that modifies the https://

www.oed.com/
function of the immune system.
search/dictionary/?
scope=Entries&q=i
mmunomodulator

23 Inactivated vaccine n. /ɪnˈaktɪveɪt ˈvaksiːn/ Vaccines containing microbes that https://

www.health.harvard
have been killed, and, therefore, are
.edu/d-through-i#I-
unable to cause disease. terms

24 Incubation period n. /ˌɪŋ.kjəˈbeɪ.ʃən ˌpɪə.ri.əd/ The time between when a person is https://
www.health.harvard
exposed to an infection and when
.edu/d-through-i#I-
symptoms appear. terms

25 Infectivity n. /ˌɪnfɛkˈtɪvᵻti/ 1- The ability to produce or https://

www.merriam-
transmit infection: the
webster.com/
quality or state of being dictionary/
infective. infectivity

2- The capacity to spread from

host to host.
26 Influenza n. /ˌɪn.fluˈen.zə/ A contagious and infectious https://
familydoctor.org/
respiratory illness usually occurring
your-health-
in the winter. resources/health-
tools/dictionary/?
alpha=I&pagenum=
2

27 Innate immunity n. /ɪˈneɪt/ /ɪˈmjuːnəti/ The body’s basic defenses against https://
www.health.harvard
disease or infection that are present
.edu/d-through-i#I-
from birth. terms

28 Interferon n. /ˌɪn.təˈfɪə.rɒn/ Proteins made by the body to protect https://

www.health.harvard
against viruses, bacteria, and other
.edu/d-through-i#I-
harmful agents. terms

29 Ischemia n. /ɪˈskiː.mi.ə/ Inadequate blood supply to an organ https://

www.health.harvard
or part of the body.
.edu/d-through-i#I-
terms

30 Leukopenia n. /ˌlü-kō-ˈpē-nē-ə/ A condition in which the number of https://

www.merriam-
white blood cells circulating in the
webster.com/
blood is abnormally low and which is dictionary/
most commonly due to a decreased leukopenia
production of new cells in
conjunction with various infectious
diseases, as a reaction to various
drugs or other chemicals, or in
response to irradiation.

31 Lymphopenia n. /ˌlɪmfə(ʊ)ˈpiːnɪə/ Reduction in the number of https://

www.merriam-
lymphocytes circulating in the blood
webster.com/
of humans or animals. medical/
lymphopenia

32 Mers-cov n. /mɜːz .kəʊˌviː/ The coronavirus (species Middle East https://

www.merriam-
respiratory syndrome-related
webster.com/
coronavirus of the genus dictionary/MERS-
Betacoronavirus) that is the causative CoV
agent of MERS

33 Myocarditis n. /ˌmaɪ.əʊ.kɑːˈdaɪ.tɪs/ An Inflammation of the heart muscle. https://

www.nps.org.au/
The inflammation can affect how it
glossary#l-q
pumps. Myocarditis is usually caused
by a viral infection. Myocarditis is a
rare side effect of some COVID-19
vaccines. It is temporary in most
cases, and goes away after rest and
treatment.

34 Nasopharyngeal adj. /ˌneɪ.zəʊ.fəˈrɪn.dʒi.əl/ Of or relating to the nose and the https://

www.oed.com/
pharynx jointly, or the nasopharynx.
search/dictionary/?
scope=Entries&q=n
 asopharyngeal

35 Neurobiology n. /ˌnjʊərə(ʊ)bʌɪˈɒlədʒi/ The biology of the nervous system; the https://

www.oed.com/
branch of science dealing with this.
search/dictionary/?
scope=Entries&q=n
eurobiology

36 Omicron n. /əʊˈmaɪ.krɒn/ An extremely transmissible genetic https://

www.merriam-
variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
webster.com/
dictionary/omicron
%20variant

37 Outbreak n. /ˈaʊt.breɪk/ A sudden rise in the incidence of a https://

www.merriam-
disease.
webster.com/
dictionary/outbreak

38 Pandemic n. /pænˈdem.ɪk/ When a new disease spreads to many https://

uvahealth.com/
countries around the world.
services/covid19-
glossary

39 Pathogenic adj. /ˌpæθ.əˈdʒen.ɪk/ Causing or capable of causing disease. https://

www.merriam-
webster.com/
dictionary/
pathogenic

40 Prophylactic n. /ˌprɒfəˈlæktɪk/ A medicine or course of action taken to https://

www.oed.com/
prevent or as a precaution against disease,
search/dictionary/?
adj. etc. scope=Entries&q=p
rophylactic

41 Pulmonary adj. /ˈpʊl.mə.nər.i/ Of, relating to, affecting, or occurring in https://

www.merriam-
the lungs.
webster.com/
dictionary/
pulmonary

42 Sars-cov n. /sɑːz.kəʊˌviː/ the coronavirus (severe acute respiratory https://

www.merriam-
syndrome-related coronavirus of the
webster.com/
genusBetacoronavirus) that is the dictionary/SARS-
causative agent of SARS. CoV

43 Screening n. /ˈskriː.nɪŋ/ A step that helps healthcare workers to https://

uvahealth.com/
decide if someone actually need a
services/covid19-
coronavirus test. It’s a series of basic glossary
questions about someone’s health
condition and recent history. Screening
may also include other common
healthcare procedures, like taking your
temperature.

44 Sequelae n. /sɪˈkwiː.liː/ 1- An aftereffect of a disease, https://

www.merriam-
condition, or injury.
webster.com/
dictionary/sequelae
 2- A secondary result.

45 Serology n. /sɪˈrɒl.ə.dʒi/ A medical science that studies blood serum, https://

www.nps.org.au/
a fluid derived from plasma which is rich in
glossary#l-q
antibodies. Serology tests look for
antibodies in your blood to see if you have
been vaccinated against or have had a
specific disease in the past. The presence of
some antibodies can also indicate an allergy
or an autoimmune disease.

46 Subvariant n. /ˈsʌbˌveə.ri.ənt/ A subsidiary or secondary variant of https://

www.oed.com/
something; (in later use) spec. a secondary
search/dictionary/?
variant of a virus or disease. scope=Entries&q=s
ubvariant

47 Thrombosis n. /θrɒmˈbəʊ.sɪs/ Formation of a blood clot within a blood https://

familydoctor.org/
vessel or the heart.
your-health-
resources/health-
tools/dictionary/?
alpha=T

48 Transmissible adj. /trænzˈmɪs.ə.bəl/ Capable of being transmitted. https://

www.oed.com/
search/dictionary/?
scope=Entries&q=tr
ansmissible

49 Troponin n. /ˈtrɒpənɪn/ A protein of muscle that together with https://

www.merriam-
tropomyosin forms a regulatory protein
webster.com/
complex controlling the interaction of actin dictionary/troponin
and myosin and that when combined with
calcium ions permits muscular contraction.

50 Variant n. /ˈveə.ri.ənt/ - Something that exhibits variation from a https://

www.merriam-
type or norm
webster.com/
adj. - Varying usually slightly from a usual or
dictionary/variant

standard form.

51 Vaccination n. /ˌvæk.sɪˈneɪ.ʃən/ Inoculation with weakened or dead https://

familydoctor.org/
microorganisms to develop immunity and
your-health-
prevent disease caused by the regular strain resources/health-
of that microorganisms. tools/dictionary/?
alpha=V&pagenum
=1

53 Ventilator n. /ˈven.tɪ.leɪ.tər/ A machine that supplies oxygen to a patient https://

uvahealth.com/
with severe lung issues. A ventilator
 machine requires a specialist or respiratory services/covid19-
glossary
therapist. It is more invasive than an oxygen
mask.

56 Zoonotic n. /ˌzuː.əˈnɒt.ɪk/ A disease that was originally detected in https://

uvahealth.com/
animal, but is now infecting people.
services/covid19-
glossary
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Alexandridi, Mazej, Palermo, Hiscott. (2022). The Coronavirus pandemic - 2022: Viruses, variants &
vaccines. doi:10.1016/j.cytogfr.2022.02.002

Cascella; Rajnik; Aleem; Dulebohn; Napoli. (2023, August 18). Features, Evaluation, and Treatment of
Coronavirus (COVID-19). National Library of Medicine. Retrieved November 11, 2023, from
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Coronavirus & COVID-19: Glossary of Terms. (2023). (R. a. Virginia., Producer) Retrieved November 10,
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COVID research: a year of scientific milestones. (2021, March 5). Retrieved November 11, 2023, from
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%20over%20a%20year,the%20flood%20of%20coronavirus%20research.

COVID-19 useful words and phrases. (2022). Retrieved November 15, 2023, from NPS MedicineWise:
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alpha=A

Medical Dictionary of Health Terms. (2023). (H. H. College, Producer) Retrieved November 15, 2023,
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Oxford English Dictionary. (n.d.). (O. U. Press, Producer) Retrieved November 16, 2023, from
https://www.oed.com/?tl=true

toPhonetics. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2023, from toPhonetics: https://tophonetics.com/

University, O. (n.d.). Oxford Learner's Dictionary. (O. U. Press, Producer) Retrieved 11 15, 2023, from
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Universsity, C. (n.d.). Cambridge Dictionary English Pronunciation. (C. University, Producer) Retrieved
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Vasile, M. C., Vasile, C. I., Arbune, A. A., Nechifor, A., & Arbune, M. (2023, November 8). Cognitive
Dysfunction in Hospitalized Patient with Moderate-to-Severe COVID-19: A 1-Year Prospective
Observational Study. doi:10.2147/JMDH.S432969

Zheng, Shao, Chen, Zhang, Wang, Zhang. (2021). Real-world effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines: a
literature review and meta-analysis. doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2021.11.009