From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishplagueplague1 /pleɪɡ/ ●○○ noun 1 [countable]MI a disease that causes death and spreads quickly to a large number of people drops in population levels due to plagues and famines2 [uncountable] (also the plague)MI a very infectious disease that produces high fever and swollen places on the body, and often leads to death, especially bubonic plague → Black Death The plague caused 100,000 deaths in London alone in the 1600s.3 → a plague of rats/locusts etc → avoid somebody/something like the plague at avoid(2)
Examples from the Corpus
plague• Meanwhile she was not to set foot outside the door, as a plague of field-mice infested the estate.• There are now three people dead - it's like a plague that's struck the whole Lossie complex.• Though relatively healthy animals, state health officials warn that they are notoriously susceptible to bubonic plague.• His speech carried a surprising pledge to end by March a nationwide plague of salary arrears.• an outbreak of plague• AIDS has been called a sexual plague.• I was not comfortable talking to kids, particularly boys, and I avoided the older ones like the plague.• The plague spreads: more atoms split, and then yet more.• Yet the final image of him working with plague victims transforms him into a heroic character.plagueplague2 verb [transitive] 1 SUFFERto cause pain, suffering, or trouble to someone, especially for a long period of timebe plagued by/with something He was plagued by eye troubles. Financial problems continued to plague the company.Grammar Plague is often passive in this meaning.2 ANNOYto annoy someone, especially by asking for something many times or asking them many questionsplague somebody with something The kids have been plaguing me with questions.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
plague• Elway has been plagued all season by back problems.• Nevertheless the Republicans, plagued by continuing factional disputes over strategy, tactics and supply, proved unable to recapture lost territory.• Wanda Kaczynski is plagued by guilt.• Fires continued to burn elsewhere in the West in states plagued by one of the worst droughts of the century.• The area is plagued by soil erosion and flooding.• Louka is also plagued by the police who are very suspicious about his bogus marriage.• Some say these were sent by the Witch King to plague him.• Price inflation plagued the distribution of imported goods and was aggravated by bottlenecks in ports like Khorramshahr and beyond.• Perhaps the most noticeable earnings problem has plagued the semiconductor group, the hottest sector through the first three quarters of 1995.• Heavy rains continue to plague the state.• Social problems plague these low-income communities.• Frederick was plagued with one illness after another throughout his childhood, mainly suffering from asthma and other breathing problems.be plagued by/with something• Diem was plagued by chaos throughout the summer.• Early versions were plagued by clogged print heads, blurry prints and a tendency to smudge.• They've got to learn that this business is plagued with fantasists and people with grudges.• Wanda Kaczynski is plagued by guilt.• The Highlands has one of the highest suicide rates in the country and is plagued by huge numbers of fatal accidents.• Frederick was plagued with one illness after another throughout his childhood, mainly suffering from asthma and other breathing problems.• Yes, we defeated the United States, but now we are plagued by problems.• But hardly had it reached our screens last July than it was plagued by troubles and controversy.plague somebody with something• The kids have been plaguing me with questions.Origin plague1 (1300-1400) Old French plage, from Latin plaga “hit, wound” 