Question

epidemic adj.流行的,传染的,流行性 n.时疫,疫疾流行,(风尚等的)流行,流行病 Epidemic can be used figuratively to refer to something that spreads or grows rapidly: an epidemic of laziness has taken over the tenth grade. This word is from French épidémique, ultimately from Greek epidēmia "staying in one place, among the people." The related word pandemic refers to a disease that spreads throughout an entire country or throughout the world. ★★☆☆☆ 2010.3

Accepted Answer

[epi'demik] An epidemic is a disease that spreads rapidly among many people in a community at the same time. In the 1980, the fast spreading AIDS epidemic transformed life on our planet. In his book The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell argues that "social epidemics" are driven in large part by the acting of a tiny minority of special individuals, often called influentials, who are unusually informed, persuasive, or well-connected. 1[N-COUNT 可数名词]（疾病的）流行，传播 If there is an epidemic of a particular disease somewhere, it affects a very large number of people there and spreads quickly to other areas.   [oft n N]A flu epidemic is sweeping through Moscow.一场流感正席卷莫斯科。...a killer epidemic of yellow fever.致命的黄热病的流行2[N-COUNT 可数名词]（坏事的）盛行，泛滥，猖獗 If an activity that you disapprove of is increasing or spreading rapidly, you can refer to this as an epidemic of that activity.   [with supp]  [disapproval]...an epidemic of serial killings...连环杀人现象的猖獗Drug experts say it could spell the end of the crack epidemic.禁毒专家说它可能会结束强效可卡因吸食泛滥的局面。

英语单词	epidemic
英美音标	[epi'demik]
中文释义	adj.流行的,传染的,流行性 n.时疫,疫疾流行,(风尚等的)流行,流行病
vocab简明	An epidemic is a disease that spreads rapidly among many people in a community at the same time. In the 1980, the fast spreading AIDS epidemic transformed life on our planet.
vocab扩展	Epidemic can be used figuratively to refer to something that spreads or grows rapidly: an epidemic of laziness has taken over the tenth grade. This word is from French épidémique, ultimately from Greek epidēmia "staying in one place, among the people." The related word pandemic refers to a disease that spreads throughout an entire country or throughout the world.
真题原句	In his book The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell argues that "social epidemics" are driven in large part by the acting of a tiny minority of special individuals, often called influentials, who are unusually informed, persuasive, or well-connected.
柯林斯星级	★★☆☆☆
柯林斯解释	1 [N-COUNT 可数名词]（疾病的）流行，传播 If there is an epidemic of a particular disease somewhere, it affects a very large number of people there and spreads quickly to other areas. [oft n N] A flu epidemic is sweeping through Moscow. 一场流感正席卷莫斯科。 ...a killer epidemic of yellow fever. 致命的黄热病的流行 2 [N-COUNT 可数名词]（坏事的）盛行，泛滥，猖獗 If an activity that you disapprove of is increasing or spreading rapidly, you can refer to this as an epidemic of that activity. [with supp] [disapproval] ...an epidemic of serial killings... 连环杀人现象的猖獗 Drug experts say it could spell the end of the crack epidemic. 禁毒专家说它可能会结束强效可卡因吸食泛滥的局面。
来源	2010.3

Epidemic Spreads Disease People Spreading Refer Word Large