1. An acute infectious disease of the small intestine, caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae and characterized by profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, muscle cramps, severe dehydration, and depletion of electrolytes. Also called Asiatic cholera.
Distortion. Distortion is the alteration of the original shape of something, such as an object, image, sound or waveform. Distortion is usually unwanted, and so engineers strive to eliminate distortion, or minimize it.
Hyperbole or exaggeration is used to convey the desired effect of the poem: to indicate the tenant's anger and the landlord's unwillingness to make the necessary repairs to the apartment. The tenant, in order to be heard, feels that he must exaggerate, that is, use hyperbole. Lines 21-24 read, Police! Police!