epidemic
n, adj (disease) spreading quickly among many people in the same place for a time 流行性的; 流行病
an influenza epidemic 流行性感冒
(fig 比喻) an epidemic of crime in our major cities 在我们的大城市中罪案频仍
Football hooliganism is now reaching epidemic proportions. 足球比赛中恣意闹事现已达愈演愈烈的地步. Cf 参看 endemic, pandemic.