Definition of: measles

(mē′zəlz) noun
1. An acute, highly contagious, generally self–immunizing virus disease affecting children and sometimes adults: it is characterized by chills, fever, severe coryza, and an extensive eruption of small red macules; rubeola.
2. Any of various eruptive diseases of a similar character: used with a qualifying adjective: French measles.
3. A disease affecting swine and cattle, caused by the presence of larval tapeworms in the flesh.
—French measles, German measles Rubella. [ME maseles, plural of masel a blister <LG. Cf. MDu. masel spot on the skin.]