verem

Verem is a multilingual term with different senses in Turkish and Hungarian, among others. In Turkish, verem refers to tuberculosis, the infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The term is chiefly historical in modern Turkish usage, where the preferred medical term is tüberküloz; verem nonetheless appears in literature and in historical public-health discussions about outbreaks, hospitals, and care in past decades.

In Hungarian, verem denotes a pit, hole, or grave, and by extension an abyss or deep cavity. It is used for both literal contexts—such as a siege pit, mine shaft, or burial site—and metaphorical ones.

Other uses of verem may appear as place names or surnames in Central European regions, reflecting the word’s historical and regional reach. Overall, the meaning of verem is highly context-dependent, varying with language and cultural usage.