WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

respiratory distress syndrome
    n 1: 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, respiratory distress syndrome of the
         newborn, hyaline membrane disease]