What does tinea mean?
In current medical usage, tinea is a technical name for a fungal infection of the skin or nearby keratinized tissue, especially an infection caused by dermatophytes and commonly called ringworm. Doctors qualify it by the affected site: tinea corporis concerns the body, tinea capitis the scalp, and tinea pedis the feet. The familiar term tinea versicolor is a historical exception: modern medicine usually calls that Malassezia infection pityriasis versicolor rather than ordinary ringworm. In zoological taxonomy, the capitalized Tinea is also a genus of small clothes moths, including the species formerly called Tinea pellionella. Thus the word is primarily a formal medical label in ordinary English, while ringworm is its accessible lay equivalent. Tinea is worth knowing because it groups infections that can look similar but require different treatments and forms of transmission.
nounA fungal infection of the skin, hair, scalp, or nails, especially one caused by a dermatophyte and commonly known as ringworm. In zoological taxonomy, the capitalized Tinea is also a genus of small clothes moths.
- In medicine, a fungal infection of the skin, hair, scalp, or nails, especially one caused by a dermatophyte and commonly called ringworm.
- In zoological taxonomy, a genus of small moths that includes the common clothes moth, Tinea pellionella.
"The doctor diagnosed tinea corporis and prescribed a topical antifungal treatment."
"The athlete was treated for tinea pedis after the rash spread between his toes."
"A museum conservator identified an infestation of Tinea pellionella, the common clothes moth."
The plural tineas is used for separate cases or types of the medical condition; the taxonomic genus remains Tinea.
"Several cases of tinea were reported among the athletes."
Tinea comes from Latin tinea, meaning “moth”: the ringworm name echoes the ragged holes made by clothes moths.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tinea come from?
Tinea entered English in the early 17th century from Latin tinea, meaning “moth.” In medical usage the name came to designate ringworm, with the moth-related word traditionally associated with the appearance of moth-eaten cloth. Cognates include French teigne, Spanish tiña, Portuguese tinha, and Italian tigna, all reflecting Latin tinea.
How tinea is actually used
Tinea is primarily a formal clinical term, while ringworm is the usual lay term. The traditional term tinea versicolor remains common, although modern medicine generally calls the Malassezia infection pityriasis versicolor and distinguishes it from ordinary dermatophyte ringworm. The zoological genus is normally capitalized and italicized.