aids
aids — noun
1. a life-threatening illness in which the HIV virus gradually weakens a person's i
a life-threatening illness in which the HIV virus gradually weakens a person's immune system so that ordinary infections become very dangerous and can lead to death; the name is almost always written in capitals as AIDS, the four letters standing for the medical term Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.
Dr. Patel explained that AIDS is caused by HIV, a virus that attacks the body's defence cells.
AIDS as bare uncountable noun; pattern: AIDS is caused by ...
The clinic in Nairobi offers free testing and counselling for people living with HIV and AIDS.
fixed phrase: people living with HIV and AIDS
Thanks to modern medicines, many patients with AIDS in Taiwan now lead long, active lives.
Maria's grandfather died of AIDS in 1992, before today's treatments were available.
Health workers visit local schools each year to teach teenagers how to protect themselves from AIDS.
- HIV/AIDS
umbrella term used in public-health writing to cover both the virus and the syndrome
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
the full medical name; very formal, mainly used in textbooks and official documents
文法句型
AIDS as bare noun (no article)
have / be diagnosed with AIDS
用法筆記
Almost always written in capitals (AIDS) because it is an initialism for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; treated as an uncountable noun, so used without 'a' or 'an' and with singular verbs. Distinguish from HIV: HIV is the virus, AIDS is the late stage of illness it can cause.