New words list July 2020

New words: entirely new headword entries appearing in OED for the first time
New sub-entries: compounds or phrases integrated in to the body of newly or recently updated entries
New senses: new senses integrated in to the body of newly or recently updated entries
Additions to unrevised entries: new senses, compounds, or phrases appended to the end of existing OED entries which have not yet been updated for the Third Edition

New word entries

• C-19, n.: “The disease Covid-19; (also) the coronavirus which causes this. Frequently as a modifier, as in C-19 pandemic, C-19 virus, etc.”
• comorbid, adj.: “Of or relating to comorbidity; spec. designating diseases, disorders, or pathological processes coexisting in one individual.”
• comorbidity, n.: “The coexistence of two or more diseases, disorders, or pathological processes in one individual, esp. as a complicating factor affecting the…”
• contact tracer, n.: “A person responsible for identifying individuals who have been in the proximity of a person diagnosed with an infectious disease, in order to…”
• contact tracing, n.: “The action or process of identifying individuals who have been in the proximity of a person diagnosed with an infectious disease, in order to…”
• corona, n.3: “A coronavirus; (now) esp. that which causes Covid-19. Also: infection with or disease caused by a coronavirus; (now) esp. Covid-19. Frequently as a…”
• Covid, n.2: “The disease Covid-19; (also) the coronavirus which causes this. Frequently as a modifier, as in Covid case, Covid crisis, Covid patient, etc. Cf…”
• CPAP, n.: “Continuous positive airway pressure, a method of respiratory therapy in which air at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure is pumped into the…”
• CV, n.: “A coronavirus; (now) esp. the coronavirus which causes the disease Covid-19. Also: the disease Covid-19.”
• CV-19, n.: “The disease Covid-19; (also) the coronavirus which causes this. Frequently as a modifier, as in CV-19 pandemic, CV-19 virus, etc.”
• dexamethasone, n.: “A synthetic corticosteroid drug used esp. for the treatment of inflammatory, allergic and certain adrenal disorders, and also conditions such as…”
• frontliner, n.: “A person positioned on the foremost line, row, or part of something; spec. a soldier fighting on the front line (front line n. 1a). Also in extended…” plus one more sense…
• Kawasaki, n.: “As a modifier, sometimes in the genitive. Designating an acute illness of infants and young children characterized by symptoms such as fever, rash…”
• MERS, n.2: “Middle East respiratory syndrome, an acute infectious disease caused by a coronavirus, usually presenting with fever and cough, and in a significant…”
• physical distancing, n.: “The action or practice of maintaining a certain physical distance from, or limiting physical contact with, another person or people, (now) esp. in…”
• triaged, adj.: “Originally Medicine: (of patients) given a preliminary assessment to determine the nature and degree of urgency of treatment required. Later also…” plus one more sense…
• triaging, n.: “Originally Medicine: the action or process of giving patients a preliminary assessment to determine the nature and degree of urgency of treatment…” plus one more sense…
• Zoom, v.2: “intransitive and transitive. To communicate with (a person or group of people) over the internet, typically by video-chatting, using the Zoom…”

New sub-entries

• CFR in C, n.: “case fatality rate (or ratio), the proportion of cases of a disease or condition that are fatal, esp. within a specified period of time.”
• community spread in community, n.: “transmission of an infectious disease or pathogen between members of a community, esp. as a result of casual contact; = community transmission n.”
• community transmission in community, n.: “transmission of an infectious disease or pathogen between members of a community, esp. as a result of casual contact; = community spread n.”
• cytokine storm in cytokine, n.: “an overactive immune response occurring in various infectious and non-infectious diseases, characterized by the excessive production of cytokines and…”
• face covering in face, n.: “any of various types of mask or covering worn to protect or conceal the face; (now) esp. one worn over the mouth and nose in order to reduce the…”
• hand gel in hand, n.: “a gel used to clean or moisturize the hands; spec. one containing a disinfectant (typically alcohol) which kills bacteria, viruses, or other…”
• medical mask in medical, adj. and n.: “a mask that covers the mouth and nose and acts as a barrier to the transmission of infectious agents; (now) esp. one designed for use by medical…”
• Middle East respiratory syndrome in Middle East, n.: “an acute infectious disease caused by a coronavirus, usually presenting with fever and cough, and in a significant proportion of cases progressing to…”
• R number in R, n.: “reproduction number, the average number of cases of an infectious disease arising by transmission from a single infected individual; cf. sense 13…”
• reproduction number in reproduction, n.: “the average number of cases of an infectious disease arising by transmission from a single infected individual; (also) spec. (more fully basic…”
• reproductive number in reproductive, adj.: “the average number of cases of an infectious disease arising by transmission from a single infected individual; (also) spec. (more fully basic…”
• spike protein in spike, n.2: “(a) (more fully tail spike protein) a protein forming part of the tail of a bacteriophage; (b) (in various human and animal viruses) a glycoprotein…”
• surgical mask in surgical, adj.: “a mask that covers the mouth and nose and acts as a barrier to the transmission of infectious agents, intended for use by medical personnel…”

New senses

• coronavirus, n., sense 2: “spec. Any of the coronaviruses (genus Betacoronavirus) responsible for outbreaks of life-threatening respiratory disease in humans, esp. the major…”
• field hospital, n., sense 2: “In extended use. A temporary hospital set up to provide (esp. emergency) medical care in an area affected by famine, a natural disaster, an outbreak…”
• isolate, v., Additions: “intransitive. To become physically or socially separated from others; (now) esp. to undertake self-imposed isolation for a period of time, typically…”
• R, n., sense II.13: “Medicine. In form R. The reproduction rate of an infectious disease, taken as the average number of cases of an infectious disease arising by…”
• shield, v., Additions: “intransitive. To protect or defend oneself.”
• shield, v., Additions: “intransitive. spec. To take measures to protect oneself against an infection, esp. by avoiding direct contact with potentially infectious individuals…”

Additions to unrevised entries

• CFR in C, n.: “case fatality rate (or ratio), the proportion of cases of a disease or condition that are fatal, esp. within a specified period of time.”
• isolate, v., Additions: “intransitive. To become physically or socially separated from others; (now) esp. to undertake self-imposed isolation for a period of time, typically…”
• shield, v., Additions: “intransitive. spec. To take measures to protect oneself against an infection, esp. by avoiding direct contact with potentially infectious individuals…”
• spike protein in spike, n.2: “(a) (more fully tail spike protein) a protein forming part of the tail of a bacteriophage; (b) (in various human and animal viruses) a glycoprotein…”
• surgical mask in surgical, adj.: “a mask that covers the mouth and nose and acts as a barrier to the transmission of infectious agents, intended for use by medical personnel…”