mumps
noun
Mumps is a disease that involves the inflammation of the saliva glands, the organs that make saliva. It causes the cheeks and the top of the neck to swell up like a balloon and turn red like a tomato. Mumps, which mostly affect children, are usually contagious and give you a fever. There is a vaccine that prevents you from getting mumps.
Doctors also use the word parotitis, a specialised word that comes from the ancient Greek par- meaning ‘along’, ot- meaning ‘ear’, and -itis, meaning ‘inflammation’.
mumps
