- a serious disease caused by a virus, that causes a high temperature, severe pains and weakness
- The whole family has the flu.
- (British English) She's got flu.
- She was off work for four days because of a bout with the flu.
- a flu outbreak/epidemic/pandemic
- a flu vaccine/vaccination
- (British English, informal) a flu jab
- (especially North American English, informal) a flu shot
- He is suffering from flu-like symptoms.
Homophones flew | flu | flueflew flu fluesee also bird flu, chicken flu, gastric flu, man flu, Spanish flu, swine flu/fluː//fluː/- flew verb (past tense of fly)
- The project team flew to Denver to meet the company's board.
- flu noun
- She’s had a nasty dose of flu.
- flue noun
- Make sure that the flue is clean so that smoke doesn't come back into the house.
Collocations IllnessesIllnessesBecoming illTopics Health problemsa2- catch a cold/an infectious disease/the flu/(British English) flu/pneumonia/a virus/(informal) a bug
- get (British English) ill/(North American English) sick/a disease/AIDS/breast cancer/a cold/the flu/(British English) flu/a migraine
- come down with a cold/the flu/(British English) flu
- contract a deadly disease/a serious illness/HIV/AIDS
- be infected with a virus/a parasite/HIV
- develop cancer/diabetes/a rash/an ulcer/symptoms of hepatitis
- have a heart attack/a stroke
- provoke/trigger/produce an allergic reaction
- block/burst/rupture a blood vessel
- damage/sever a nerve/an artery/a tendon
- feel (British English) ill/nauseous/queasy
- be running (British English) a temperature/(North American English) a fever
- have a head cold/diabetes/heart disease/lung cancer/a headache/(British English) a high temperature/(North American English) a fever
- suffer from asthma/malnutrition/frequent headaches/nausea/bouts of depression/post-traumatic stress disorder
- be laid up with/ (British English) be in bed with a cold/the flu/(British English) flu/a migraine
- nurse a cold/a headache/a hangover
- battle/fight cancer/depression/addiction/alcoholism
- examine a patient
- diagnose a condition/disease/disorder
- be diagnosed with cancer/diabetes/schizophrenia
- prescribe/be given/be on/take drugs/medicine/medication/pills/painkillers/antibiotics
- treat somebody for cancer/depression/shock
- have/undergo an examination/an operation/surgery/a kidney transplant/therapy/chemotherapy/treatment for cancer
- have/be given an injection/(British English) a flu jab/(North American English) a flu shot/a blood transfusion/a scan/an X-ray
- cure a disease/an ailment/cancer/a headache/a patient
- prevent the spread of disease/further outbreaks/damage to the lungs
- be vaccinated against the flu/(British English) flu/the measles/(British English) measles/polio/smallpox
- enhance/boost/confer/build immunity to a disease
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- mild
- bad
- gastric
- …
- bout
- case
- dose
- …
- be in bed with
- have
- suffer from
- …
- bug
- virus
- epidemic
- …
- a bout with the flu
Word Originmid 19th cent.: abbreviation.
Check pronunciation:
flu