Medical Dictionary

distemper

noun dis·tem·per \dis-ˈtem-pər\

Medical Definition of DISTEMPER

:  a disordered or abnormal bodily state especially of quadruped mammals: as a :  a highly contagious virus disease especially of dogs that is marked by fever, leukopenia, and respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological symptoms and that is caused by a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus (species Canine distemper virus)—called also canine distemper b :  strangles c :  panleukopenia d :  a severe frequently fatal infectious nasopharyngeal inflammation of rabbits
How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.
Test your vocab with our fun, fast game
Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears