ˌhʌɪ.dɹə(ʊ)ˈfəʊ.bɪ.ə ˌhaɪ.dɹəˈfoʊ.bɪ.ə ˈlɪsə ˈmæd.nəs ˈmad.nəs ˈmɛd.nɘs ˈɹeɪ.biːz an acute viral disease of the nervous system of warm-blooded animals (usually transmitted by the bite of a rabid animal); rabies is fatal if the virus reaches the brain