acquired immune deficiency syndrome

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

• noun pathology An infectious disease, caused by HIV, that causes the gradual degeneration of the body's immune system.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• noun a serious (often fatal) disease of the immune system transmitted through blood products especially by sexual contact or contaminated needles