variola major meaning and definition

VARIOLA MAJOR noun

Definition of variola major (noun)

1. a highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever and weakness and skin eruption with pustules that form scabs that slough off leaving scars
   • synonyms: smallpox, variola
2. a type of smallpox virus that has a fatality rate of up to 25 percent
   • synonyms: variola major virus