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kuru

Advanced (C1/C2)

IPA: /ˈkʊəruː/

KK: /kuːruː/

noun
Definition

A serious and deadly brain disease caused by a type of infectious protein, often linked to eating human brain tissue, particularly in certain groups in New Guinea.


Example

The villagers were warned about the dangers of kuru, a disease that could be transmitted through cannibalism.


Conversation
Sloth A
Have you ever heard of kuru?
Sloth B
Yeah, I read about it in a book once.
Sloth A
It's such a strange disease, especially how it was transmitted.
Sloth B
Right? It's crazy to think about how cultural practices can lead to such illnesses.

Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
disease
illness
disorder
Antonyms
health
wellness
cure
Root Explanation

The word 'kuru' originates from the Japanese language, meaning 'to come' or 'to arrive'.

Memory Tip

Think of 'kuru' as a way to remember the action of coming or arriving, as it directly translates to that in Japanese.

Visually Confused Words
kurku
uru
kru
kudrun
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