: a virus 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 (species Bluetongue virus of the genus Orbivirus)
Examples of bluetongue in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Understanding how the virus operates offers a pathway to designing antiviral drugs as well as new vaccines to control bluetongue and related viral infections in animals and humans.
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Discover Magazine, 23 Feb. 2018
This may look like a popular children’s ball, but it’s the virus that causes bluetongue disease, a viral infection that has killed about 2 million cattle in Europe over the past two decades.
—Discover Magazine, 23 Feb. 2018
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
It is caused by two different viruses: epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHD) and bluetongue virus.
—Sarah Ladd, The Courier-Journal, 22 Aug. 2019
Discover Magazine, 23 Feb. 2018
This may look like a popular children’s ball, but it’s the virus that causes bluetongue disease, a viral infection that has killed about 2 million cattle in Europe over the past two decades.
—Discover Magazine, 23 Feb. 2018
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
It is caused by two different viruses: epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHD) and bluetongue virus.
—Sarah Ladd, The Courier-Journal, 22 Aug. 2019
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bluetongue.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1863, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near bluetongue
Cite this Entry
“Bluetongue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bluetongue. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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Medical Definition
bluetongue
noun
blue·tongue
ˈblü-ˌtəŋ 
: a noncontagious virus disease especially of sheep that is caused by a reovirus of the genus Orbivirus (species Bluetongue virus) 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
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