1 foot-and-mouth disease | Definition of foot-and-mouth disease
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foot-and-mouth disease

noun

Definition of foot-and-mouth disease

: an acute contagious febrile disease especially of cloven-footed animals that is caused by serotypes of a picornavirus (species Foot-and-mouth disease virus of the genus Aphthovirus) and is marked by ulcerating vesicles in the mouth, about the hooves, and on the udder and teats

— called also foot-and-mouth, hoof-and-mouth disease

— compare hand, foot and mouth disease

Examples of foot-and-mouth disease in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 For many, the very idea evokes memories of the catastrophic 2001 foot-and-mouth disease crisis, which led to the culling of millions of sheep. — Washington Post, "Boris Johnson’s no-deal Brexit could lead British lambs to slaughter," 17 Aug. 2019 Aftosa is foot-and-mouth disease: There is reason to fear that the highway would become a vector for it. — Charles R. Morris, WSJ, "‘The Longest Line on the Map’ Review: The End of the Road," 8 Jan. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'foot-and-mouth disease.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of foot-and-mouth disease

1850, in the meaning defined above

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More Definitions for foot-and-mouth disease

foot-and-mouth disease

noun

English Language Learners Definition of foot-and-mouth disease

: a serious and often deadly disease of animals (such as cows and sheep)

See the full definition for foot-and-mouth disease in the English Language Learners Dictionary

foot-and-mouth disease

noun

Medical Definition of foot-and-mouth disease

: an acute contagious febrile disease especially of cloven-hoofed animals that is caused by any of seven serotypes of a picornavirus (species Foot-and-mouth disease virus of the genus Aphthovirus) and is marked by ulcerating vesicles in the mouth, about the hooves, and on the udder and teats

— called also aftosa, aphthous fever, foot-and-mouth, hoof-and-mouth disease

— compare hand, foot and mouth disease

More from Merriam-Webster on foot-and-mouth disease

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with foot-and-mouth disease

Britannica English: Translation of foot-and-mouth disease for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about foot-and-mouth disease

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