distemper
1Veterinary Pathology.
Also called canine distemper . an infectious disease chiefly of young dogs, caused by an unidentified virus and characterized by lethargy, fever, catarrh, photophobia, and vomiting.
Also called colt distemper, equine distemper, strangles . an infectious disease of horses, caused by the bacillus Streptococcus equi and characterized by catarrh of the upper air passages and the formation of pus in the submaxillary and other lymphatic glands.
Also called cat distemper, feline agranulocytosis, feline distemper, feline infectious enteritis, feline panleukopenia . a usually fatal viral disease of cats, characterized by fever, vomiting, and diarrhea, leading to severe dehydration.
a deranged condition of mind or body; a disorder or disease: a feverish distemper.
disorder or disturbance, especially of a political nature.
Obsolete. to derange physically or mentally.
Origin of distemper
1Other words from distemper
- dis·tem·pered·ly, adverb
- dis·tem·pered·ness, noun
Other definitions for distemper (2 of 2)
Art.
a technique of decorative painting in which glue or gum is used as a binder or medium to achieve a mat surface and rapid drying.
(formerly) the tempera technique.
a painting executed by this method.
to paint in distemper.
British. to whitewash a wall, cottage, etc.; calcimine.
Origin of distemper
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for distemper (1 of 2)
/ (dɪsˈtɛmpə) /
(tr) archaic to disturb
Origin of distemper
1British Dictionary definitions for distemper (2 of 2)
/ (dɪsˈtɛmpə) /
a technique of painting in which the pigments are mixed with water, glue, size, etc, used for poster, mural, and scene painting
the paint used in this technique or any of various water-based paints, including, in Britain, whitewash
(tr) to mix (pigments) with water and size
to paint (something) with distemper
Origin of distemper
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for distemper
[ dĭs-tĕm′pər ]
An infectious disease occurring especially in dogs, caused by the canine distemper virus of the genus Morbillivirus. It is characterized by loss of appetite, a discharge from the eyes and nose, vomiting, fever, lethargy, partial paralysis caused by destruction of myelinated nerve tissue, and sometimes death.
An infectious disease of cats caused by the feline panleukopenia virus of the genus Parvovirus, characterized by fever, vomiting, diarrhea leading to dehydration, and sometimes death.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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