variola

va*ri*o*la

noun

{bc}{sx|smallpox||}

small*pox

noun

{bc}an acute contagious febrile disease of humans that is caused by a poxvirus (species {it}Variola virus{/it} of the genus {it}Orthopoxvirus{/it}), is characterized by a skin eruption with pustules, sloughing, and scar formation, and is believed to have been eradicated globally by widespread vaccination