Definition of "leprosy"

(medicine) An infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, gradually producing nerve damage and patches of skin necrosis and historically handled by permanently quarantining its sufferers.  quotations  examples

(medicine, now usually proscribed) Similar contagious skin diseases causing light patches of scaly skin, particularly psoriasis, syphilis, vitiligo, scabies, and (biblical) the various diseases considered "tzaraath" in the Old Testament.  examples

(figurative) Anything considered similarly permanent, harmful, and communicable, particularly when such a thing should be handled by avoidance or isolation of its victims.  examples

(veterenary medicine) A contagious disease causing similar effects in animals, particularly

1. Ellipsis of murine leprosy. and feline leprosy, diseases caused in rodents and cats by Mycobacterium lepraemurium.  examples

2. (obsolete) Synonym of mange and glanders in horses.

(obsolete, rare) Synonym of leprosarium: a place for the housing of lepers in isolation from the rest of society.