1 an intermittent and remittent fever caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium, introduced by the bite of a mosquito.
2 archaic an unwholesome atmosphere caused by the exhalations of marshes, to which this fever was formerly attributed.
Derivatives:
malarial adj. malarian adj. malarious adj.
Etymology: It. mal' aria bad air
Useful english dictionary. 2012.