bluetongue

noun

blue·​tongue ˈblü-ˌtəŋ 

: a viral disease chiefly of sheep that is marked by hyperemia, cyanosis, and by swelling and sloughing of the mucous membranes especially about the mouth and tongue and is caused by a reovirus (Orbivirus caerulinguae)

Examples of bluetongue in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Hemorrhagic disease is also a general term that can refer to bluetongue virus, which has similar symptoms but can pose a serious threat to livestock like sheep. — Gillian Stawiszynski, The Enquirer, 19 Aug. 2025

Ever since the bluetongue virus struck nearly a year ago, German farmer Ortrun Humpert has cared for sick sheep to contain a crisis and feels increasingly abandoned by authorities. — Léa Pernelle, Fortune Europe, 21 Oct. 2024

In 2007, the bluetongue virus—a disease spread by midge bites—began to sweep through herds of sheep and cattle across Europe. — Popular Science, 20 May 2020

Take bluetongue virus, a highly lethal ruminant disease that is spread by biting midges called Culicoides. — Lois Parshley, Scientific American, 1 May 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bluetongue

• among
• hirschsprung
• unsung
• bling
• bung
• clung
• dung
• flung
• fung
• hung
• lung
• rung

Medical Definition

bluetongue

noun

blue·​tongue ˈblü-ˌtəŋ 

: a noncontagious viral disease especially of sheep that is caused by an orbivirus (Orbivirus caerulinguae) transmitted by biting flies of the genus Culicoides and that is characterized by hyperemia and cyanosis and by swelling and sloughing of the mucous membranes especially about the mouth and tongue

called also soremuzzle