1 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] 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. □ A flu epidemic is sweeping through Moscow. □ [+ of ] …a killer epidemic of yellow fever.
2 N‑COUNT If an activity that you disapprove of is increasing or spreading rapidly, you can refer to this as an epidemic of that activity. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ of ] …an epidemic of serial killings. □ Drug experts say it could spell the end of the crack epidemic.
epi|der|mis /e p I dɜː r m I s/ N‑SING Your epidermis is the thin, protective, outer layer of your skin. [TECHNICAL ]
epi|dur|al /e pidjʊə rəl, [AM ] -dʊ r-/ (epidurals ) N‑COUNT An epidural is a type of anaesthetic which is injected into a person's spine so that they cannot feel anything from the waist downwards. Epidurals are sometimes given to women when they are giving birth.
epi|gram /e p I græm/ (epigrams ) N‑COUNT An epigram is a short saying or poem which expresses an idea in a very clever and amusing way.
epi|lep|sy /e p I lepsi/ N‑UNCOUNT Epilepsy is a brain condition which causes a person to suddenly lose consciousness and sometimes to have fits.
epi|lep|tic /e p I le pt I k/ (epileptics )
1 ADJ Someone who is epileptic suffers from epilepsy. □ He was epileptic and refused to take medication for his condition. ● N‑COUNT An epileptic is someone who is epileptic. □ His wife is an epileptic.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] An epileptic fit is caused by epilepsy. □ He suffered an epileptic fit.
epi|logue /e p I lɒg, [AM ] -lɔːg/ (epilogues ) in AM, also use epilog N‑COUNT An epilogue is a passage or speech which is added to the end of a book or play as a conclusion.
epipha|ny / I p I fəni/ (epiphanies )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Epiphany is a Christian festival on the 6th of January which celebrates the arrival of the wise men who came to see Jesus Christ soon after he was born.
2 N‑COUNT An epiphany is a moment of sudden insight or understanding. □ …Isaac Newton's epiphany about gravity and a falling apple.
epis|co|pal / I p I skəp ə l/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Episcopal means relating to a branch of the Anglican Church in Scotland and the USA. □ …the Scottish Episcopal Church. □ …the Episcopal bishop of New York. □ …the Protestant Episcopal church.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Episcopal means relating to bishops. [FORMAL ] □ …episcopal conferences.
Epis|co|pa|li|an / I p I skəpe I liən/ (Episcopalians )
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Episcopalian means belonging to the Episcopal Church.
2 N‑COUNT An Episcopalian is a member of the Episcopal Church.
epi|sode ◆◇◇ /e p I soʊd/ (episodes )
1 N‑COUNT You can refer to an event or a short period of time as an episode if you want to suggest that it is important or unusual, or has some particular quality. □ This episode is bound to be a deep embarrassment for Washington. □ [+ of ] Unfortunately it was a rather sordid episode of my life.
2 N‑COUNT An episode of something such as a series on radio or television or a story in a magazine is one of the separate parts in which it is broadcast or published. □ The final episode will be shown next Sunday. [Also + of ]
3 N‑COUNT An episode of an illness is short period in which a person who suffers from it is affected by it particularly badly. [MEDICAL ]
epi|sod|ic /e p I sɒ d I k/ ADJ Something that is episodic occurs at irregular and infrequent intervals. [FORMAL ] □ …episodic attacks of fever.
epis|tle / I p I s ə l/ (epistles )
1 N‑COUNT An epistle is a letter. [LITERARY ]
2 N‑COUNT In the Bible, the Epistles are a series of books in the New Testament which were originally written as letters to the early Christians.
epis|to|lary / I p I stələri, [AM ] -leri/ ADJ [ADJ n] An epistolary novel or story is one that is written as a series of letters. [FORMAL ]
epi|taph /e p I tɑːf, -tæf/ (epitaphs ) N‑COUNT An epitaph is a short piece of writing about someone who is dead, often carved on their grave.
epi|thet /e p I θet/ (epithets ) N‑COUNT An epithet is an adjective or short phrase which is used as a way of criticizing or praising someone. [FORMAL ] □ …the religious issue which led to the epithet 'bible-basher'.
epito|me / I p I təmi/ N‑SING If you say that a person or thing is the epitome of something, you are emphasizing that they are the best possible example of a particular type of person or thing. [FORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ [+ of ] Maureen was the epitome of sophistication.
epito|mize / I p I təma I z/ (epitomizes , epitomizing , epitomized ) in BRIT, also use epitomise VERB If you say that something or someone epitomizes a particular thing, you mean that they are a perfect example of it. □ [be V -ed + by ] Lyonnais cooking is epitomized by the so-called 'bouchons'. □ [V n] …the sleek lift that epitomized the hotel's glossy decor.
EPO /iː piː oʊ / also epo N‑UNCOUNT EPO is a drug that can improve performance in sports and is used illegally by some sportspeople. EPO is short for 'erythropoietin'.
epoch /iː pɒk, [AM ] e pək/ (epochs ) N‑COUNT If you refer to a long period of time as an epoch , you mean that important events or great changes took place during it. □ The birth of Christ was the beginning of a major epoch of world history.