Definition

A serious illness that affects the larvae of honeybees, caused by certain types of bacteria.

Example

The beekeeper had to treat the hive for foulbrood to save the remaining bees.

Conversation

Have you heard about the recent cases of foulbrood affecting beekeepers?

Yeah, it's really concerning how quickly it spreads among hives.

I read that it can be fatal for the larvae if not treated promptly.

Exactly, we need to be careful and monitor our bees closely.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Foulbrood is formed from "foul" (from Old English *fūl*, meaning dirty or unclean) and "brood" (from Old English *brōd*, meaning offspring or young). The term foulbrood refers to a disease affecting the young of bees, indicating that the brood is unclean or diseased.

Memory Tip

Think of 'foul' meaning dirty and 'brood' referring to young offspring — this helps you remember that foulbrood describes a disease affecting the young bees.

Visually Confused Words