INFECTION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does infection mean? 

• INFECTION (noun)
  The noun INFECTION has 7 senses:

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

5. the communication of an attitude or emotional state among a number of people

6. moral corruption or contamination

7. (international law) illegality that taints or contaminates a ship or cargo rendering it liable to seizure

  Familiarity information: INFECTION used as a noun is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INFECTION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The pathological state resulting from the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

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

health problem; ill health; unhealthiness (a state in which you are unable to function normally and without pain)

Meronyms (parts of "infection"):

incubation ((pathology) the phase in the development of an infection between the time a pathogen enters the body and the time the first symptoms appear)

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

sepsis (the presence of pus-forming bacteria or their toxins in the blood or tissues)

vaccina; vaccinia; variola vaccina; variola vaccine; variola vaccinia (a local infection induced in humans by inoculation with the virus causing cowpox in order to confer resistance to smallpox; normally lasts three weeks and leaves a pitted scar)

viral infection; virus infection (infection by a virus that is pathogenic to humans)

toxoplasmosis (infection caused by parasites transmitted to humans from infected cats; if contracted by a pregnant woman it can result in serious damage to the fetus)

lockjaw; tetanus (an acute and serious infection of the central nervous system caused by bacterial infection of open wounds; spasms of the jaw and laryngeal muscles may occur during the late stages)

tapeworm infection (intestinal infection by a species of parasitic tapeworm; usually the result of eating inadequately cooked meat or fish)

suprainfection (secondary infection caused by an opportunistic infection)

superinfection (infection that occurs while you are being treated for another infection)

eye infection; hordeolum; sty; stye (an infection of the sebaceous gland of the eyelid)

septic sore throat; strep throat; streptococcal sore throat; streptococcus tonsilitis; throat infection (an infection of the oral pharynx and tonsils by streptococcus)

staphylococcal infection (an infection with staphylococcus bacteria; usually marked by abscess formation)

sore (an open skin infection)

bilharzia; bilharziasis; schistosomiasis (an infestation with or a resulting infection caused by a parasite of the genus Schistosoma; common in the tropics and Far East; symptoms depend on the part of the body infected)

itch; scabies (a contagious skin infection caused by the itch mite; characterized by persistent itching and skin irritation)

respiratory infection; respiratory tract infection (any infection of the respiratory tract)

protozoal infection (any infection caused by a protozoan)

paronychia (infection in the tissues adjacent to a nail on a finger or toe)

opportunistic infection (any infection caused by a microorganism that does not normally cause disease in humans; occurs in persons with abnormally functioning immune systems (as AIDS patients or transplant patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs))

cross infection; nonsocial infection (an infection that is acquired at a hospital or other healthcare facility)

focal infection (bacterial infection limited to a specific organ or region especially one causing symptoms elsewhere)

felon; whitlow (a purulent infection at the end of a finger or toe in the area surrounding the nail)

enterobiasis (an infestation with or a resulting infection caused by the pinworm Enterobius vermicularis; occurs especially in children)

Derivation:

infect (contaminate with a disease or microorganism)

infectious (caused by infection or capable of causing infection)

infectious (of or relating to infection)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(phonetics) the alteration of a speech sound under the influence of a neighboring sound

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

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

linguistic process (a process involved in human language)

Domain category:

phonetics (the branch of acoustics concerned with speech processes including its production and perception and acoustic analysis)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(medicine) the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms and their multiplication which can lead to tissue damage and disease

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

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

pathologic process; pathological process (an organic process occurring as a consequence of disease)

Domain category:

medical specialty; medicine (the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques)

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

zymosis ((medicine) the development and spread of an infectious disease (especially one caused by a fungus))

Derivation:

infect (contaminate with a disease or microorganism)

infectious (of or relating to infection)

Sense 4

Meaning:

An incident in which an infectious disease is transmitted

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

contagion; infection; transmission

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

incident (a single distinct event)

Derivation:

infect (communicate a disease to)

Sense 5

Meaning:

The communication of an attitude or emotional state among a number of people

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

contagion; infection

Context example:

the infection of his enthusiasm for poetry

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

communication (something that is communicated by or to or between people or groups)

Derivation:

infect (affect in a contagious way)

infectious (easily spread)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Moral corruption or contamination

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

ambitious men are led astray by an infection that is almost unavoidable

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

corruption; corruptness (lack of integrity or honesty (especially susceptibility to bribery); use of a position of trust for dishonest gain)

Sense 7

Meaning:

(international law) illegality that taints or contaminates a ship or cargo rendering it liable to seizure

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

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

illegality (unlawfulness by virtue of violating some legal statute)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

 Context examples 

It may be caused by infection or by certain drugs.

(Acquired pure red cell aplasia, NCI Dictionary)

Meningitis is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection, but sometimes is caused by cancer, drug allergies, or inflammatory diseases.

(Meningitis, NCI Dictionary)

A bacterial infection of the membranes covering the brain and the spinal cord caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

(Meningeal Tuberculosis, NCI Thesaurus)

In 2016, the report estimated that 600,000 children died from acute lower respiratory infections caused by polluted air.

(WAir Pollution a Health Risk for Children, Lisa Schlein/VOA)

Pneumococcal infections and meningococcal infections can cause bacterial meningitis.

(Meningitis, NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Meningococci are a type of bacteria that cause serious infections.

(Meningococcal Infections, NIH)

ACDM may placed over wounds to aid as a substitute for skin when necessary such as for surgical reconstruction or for protection against wound exposure and breakdown and wound infection.

(Acellular Cadaveric Dermal Matrix, NCI Thesaurus)

Oil from the tea tree is used in shampoos and skin care products and to treat skin infections.

(Melaleuca alternifolia, NCI Dictionary)

A. radingae infection is often associated with breast, chest, and back abscesses.

(Actinomyces radingae, NCI Thesaurus)

A. turicensis is most often related to genital, skin, and urinary tract infections.

(Actinomyces turicensis, NCI Thesaurus)