epidemic

1. N-COUNT 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. (疾病的) 流行

A flu epidemic is sweeping through Moscow. 一場流感正蓆卷莫斯科。

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. (壞事的) 盛行[表不滿]

...an epidemic of serial killings. …連環(huán)謀殺的盛行。