|
Infection - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
|
Infection : (noun)
1: the pathological state resulting from the invasion of the
body by pathogenic microorganisms
2: (phonetics) the alteration of a speech sound under the
influence of a neighboring sound
3: (medicine) the invasion of the body by pathogenic
microorganisms and their multiplication which can lead to
tissue damage and disease
4: an incident in which an infectious disease is transmitted
[syn: contagion, transmission]
5: the communication of an attitude or emotional state among a
number of people; "a contagion of mirth"; "the infection
of his enthusiasm for poetry" [syn: contagion]
6: moral corruption or contamination; "ambitious men are led
astray by an infection that is almost unavoidable"
7: (international law) illegality that taints or contaminates a
ship or cargo rendering it liable to seizure
Based on WordNet 2.0
|
|
Infection : \In*fec"tion\, n. [Cf. F. infection, L. infectio a
dyeing.]
1. The act or process of infecting.
There was a strict order against coming to those
pits, and that was only to prevent infection. --De
Foe.
2. That which infects, or causes the communicated disease;
any effluvium, miasm, or pestilential matter by which an
infectious disease is caused.
And that which was still worse, they that did thus
break out spread the infection further by their
wandering about with the distemper upon them. --De
Foe.
3. The state of being infected; contamination by morbific
particles; the result of infecting influence; a prevailing
disease; epidemic.
The danger was really very great, the infection
being so very violent in London. --De Foe.
4. That which taints or corrupts morally; as, the infection
of vicious principles.
It was her chance to light Amidst the gross
infections of those times. --Daniel.
5. (Law) Contamination by illegality, as in cases of
contraband goods; implication.
6. Sympathetic communication of like qualities or emotions;
influence.
Through all her train the soft infection ran.
--Pope.
Mankind are gay or serious by infection. --Rambler.
Syn: Infection, Contagion.
Usage: Infection is often used in a definite and limited
sense of the transmission of affections without direct
contact of individuals or immediate application or
introduction of the morbific agent, in
contradistinction to contagion, which then implies
transmission by direct contact. Quain. See
Contagious.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
|
|
Infection : Infection: The growth of a parasitic organism within the body. (A parasitic organism is one that lives on or in another organism and draws its nourishment therefrom.) A person with an
infection has another organism (a "germ") growing within him, drawing its nourishment from the person.
The term "infection" has some exceptions. For example, the normal growth of the usual bacterial flora in the intestinal tract is not usually considered an infection. The same consideration applies
to the bacteria that normally inhabit the mouth.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
|
|
|
|
|
