Source : WordNet®

respiratory distress syndrome
     n : an acute lung disease of the newborn (especially the
         premature newborn); lungs cannot expand because of a
         wetting agent is lacking; characterized by rapid shallow
         breathing and cyanosis and the formation of a glassy
         hyaline membrane over the alveoli [syn: {respiratory
         distress syndrome of the newborn}, {hyaline membrane
         disease}]