GANGRENE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does gangrene mean? 

• GANGRENE (noun)
  The noun GANGRENE has 2 senses:

1. necrotic tissue; a mortified or gangrenous part or mass

2. the localized death of living cells (as from infection or the interruption of blood supply)

  Familiarity information: GANGRENE used as a noun is rare.

• GANGRENE (verb)
  The verb GANGRENE has 1 sense:

1. undergo necrosis

  Familiarity information: GANGRENE used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GANGRENE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Necrotic tissue; a mortified or gangrenous part or mass

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

gangrene; slough; sphacelus

Hypernyms ("gangrene" is a kind of...):

pathology (any deviation from a healthy or normal condition)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "gangrene"):

cold gangrene; dry gangrene; mumification necrosis; mummification ((pathology) gangrene that develops in the presence of arterial obstruction and is characterized by dryness of the dead tissue and a dark brown color)

clostridial myonecrosis; emphysematous gangrene; emphysematous phlegmon; gangrenous emphysema; gas gangrene; gas phlegmon; progressive emphysematous necrosis ((pathology) a deadly form of gangrene usually caused by clostridium bacteria that produce toxins that cause tissue death; can be used as a bioweapon)

Derivation:

gangrene (undergo necrosis)

gangrenous (suffering from tissue death)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The localized death of living cells (as from infection or the interruption of blood supply)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Synonyms:

gangrene; mortification; necrosis; sphacelus

Hypernyms ("gangrene" is a kind of...):

death (the permanent end of all life functions in an organism or part of an organism)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "gangrene"):

myonecrosis (localized death of muscle cell fibers)

Derivation:

gangrenous (suffering from tissue death)

• GANGRENE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they gangrene    ... he / she / it gangrenes   
Past simple: gangrened   
Past participle: gangrened   
-ing form: gangrening   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Undergo necrosis

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

gangrene; mortify; necrose; sphacelate

Context example:

the tissue around the wound necrosed

Hypernyms (to "gangrene" is one way to...):

rot; waste (become physically weaker)

Sentence frame:

Somebody's (body part) ----s

Derivation:

gangrene (necrotic tissue; a mortified or gangrenous part or mass)

 Context examples 

Gangrene can happen on the surface of the body, such as on the skin, or inside the body, in muscles or organs.

(Gangrene, NIH)

Gangrene of the mucous membranes of the mouth leading to ulcers and destruction of the soft tissues of the face and bones.

(Gangrenous Stomatitis, NCI Thesaurus)

C. tertium has traditionally been considered nonpathogenic but has since been designated an emerging pathogen in immunocompromised and wound patients, causing necrotizing fasciitis and gas gangrene.

(Clostridium tertium, NCI Thesaurus)

C. bifermentans is found in cases of gaseous gangrene and in rotting meat.

(Clostridium bifermentans, NCI Thesaurus)

C. septicum is highly pathogenic; infection is most commonly associated with paraneoplastic syndrome and it is also a causative agent of gas gangrene.

(Clostridium septicum, NCI Thesaurus)

C. novyi is pathogenic, causing gas gangrene within wounds and in individuals with diabetes.

(Clostridium novyi, NCI Thesaurus)

C. perfringens is a food borne pathogen, being the causative agent of pig-bel syndrome and gas gangrene.

(Clostridium perfringens, NCI Thesaurus)

Tell your friend that when that time you suck from my wound so swiftly the poison of the gangrene from that knife that our other friend, too nervous, let slip, you did more for him when he wants my aids and you call for them than all his great fortune could do.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

If the gangrene is internal, you may run a fever and feel unwell, and the area may be swollen and painful.

(Gangrene, NIH)

Gangrene is the death of tissues in your body.

(Gangrene, NIH)