Newcastle disease

noun

New·​cas·​tle disease ˈnü-ˌka-səl- How to pronounce Newcastle disease (audio)
ˈnyü-;
n(y)ü-ˈka-
: a contagious often fatal virus disease of birds and especially the domestic chicken that is caused by a paramyxovirus (species Newcastle disease virus of the genus Avulavirus) and that is marked by respiratory and nervous symptoms

Examples of Newcastle disease in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City selected a bird pathogen, Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Stephani Sutherland, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024 This hurdle does not seem insurmountable, the experts Vox spoke with said, since poultry already receive several vaccines such as those for Newcastle disease, salmonella, and bronchitis. Jess Craig, Vox, 14 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Newcastle upon Tyne, England

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Newcastle disease was in 1927

Dictionary Entries Near Newcastle disease

Cite this Entry

“Newcastle disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Newcastle%20disease. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

Medical Definition

Newcastle disease

noun
: a contagious mild to fatal virus disease of birds and especially the domestic chicken that is caused by a paramyxovirus of the genus Rubulavirus (species Newcastle disease virus), that is marked by highly variable respiratory, digestive, and nervous clinical signs (as sneezing, coughing, diarrhea, incoordination, tremors, and twitching of the head) and that is especially destructive to young birds although all ages may be attacked

called also pseudoplague

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