Answer: PLAGUE

Plague refers to a contagious and often deadly disease that is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. It is typically characterized by high fevers, weakness, and the formation of painful swelling called buboes. Plague can be transmitted to humans through infected fleas that live on small mammals such as rats. As for the clue, I'm sorry but I cannot identify a specific word or meaning based on the given information.

Note: The provided meaning of the answer is for the latest New York Times crossword puzzle clue: Former magazine that featured male nudes. Explanations are generated by AI and may be inaccurate.