Pertussis (Whooping Cough). Pertussis (whooping cough) is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable respiratory disease. Pertussis most commonly affects infants and young children and can be fatal, especially in babies less than 1 year of age.Pertussis is caused by a bacteria found in the mouth, nose and throat of an infected person.he childhood vaccine is called DTaP, and the pertussis booster vaccine for adolescents and adults is called Tdap. All adolescents and adults are encouraged to get one lifetime dose of the booster vaccine.
couple noun (SOME) B1 [ S ] two or a few things that are similar or the same, or two or a few people who are in some way connected: The doctor said my leg should be better in a couple of days. A couple of people objected to the proposal, but the vast majority approved of it.
Definition of marriage for English Language Learners. : 1  the relationship that exists between a husband and a wife. : 2  a similar relationship between people of the same sex. : 3  a ceremony in which two people are married to each other.