INFLAMMATION

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does inflammation mean? 

• INFLAMMATION (noun)
  The noun INFLAMMATION has 4 senses:

1. a response of body tissues to injury or irritation; characterized by pain and swelling and redness and heat

2. the state of being emotionally aroused and worked up

3. arousal to violent emotion

4. the act of setting something on fire

  Familiarity information: INFLAMMATION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INFLAMMATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A response of body tissues to injury or irritation; characterized by pain and swelling and redness and heat

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

inflammation; redness; rubor

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

symptom ((medicine) any sensation or change in bodily function that is experienced by a patient and is associated with a particular disease)

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

adenitis (inflammation of a gland or lymph node)

alveolitis (inflammation of the alveoli in the lungs caused by inhaling dust; with repeated exposure the condition may become chronic)

alveolitis; dry socket (inflammation in the socket of a tooth; sometimes occurs after a tooth is extracted and a blood clot fails to form)

angiitis (inflammation of a blood vessel or lymph duct)

aortitis (inflammation of the aorta)

appendicitis (inflammation of the vermiform appendix)

arteritis (inflammation of an artery)

balanitis (inflammation of the head of the penis)

balanoposthitis (inflammation of both the head of the penis and the foreskin)

blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids characterized by redness and swelling and dried crusts)

bursitis (inflammation of a bursa; frequently in the shoulder)

carditis (inflammation of the heart)

catarrh (inflammation of the nose and throat with increased production of mucus)

cellulitis (an inflammation of body tissue (especially that below the skin) characterized by fever and swelling and redness and pain)

cervicitis (inflammation of the uterine cervix)

cheilitis (inflammation and cracking of the skin of the lips)

cholangitis (inflammation of the bile ducts)

cholecystitis (inflammation of the gall bladder)

chorditis (inflammation of the vocal cords)

chorditis (inflammation of the spermatic cord)

colitis; inflammatory bowel disease (inflammation of the colon)

colpitis (inflammation of the vagina)

colpocystitis (inflammation of the vagina and bladder)

conjunctivitis; pinkeye (inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye)

corditis (inflammation of the spermatic cord)

costochondritis (inflammation at the junction of a rib and its cartilage)

dacryocystitis (inflammation of the lacrimal sac causing obstruction of the tube draining tears into the nose)

diverticulitis (inflammation of a diverticulum in the digestive tract (especially the colon); characterized by painful abdominal cramping and fever and constipation)

cephalitis; encephalitis; phrenitis (inflammation of the brain usually caused by a virus; symptoms include headache and neck pain and drowsiness and nausea and fever ('phrenitis' is no longer in scientific use))

encephalomyelitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord)

endarteritis (inflammation of the inner lining of an artery)

endocervicitis (inflammation of the mucous lining of the uterine cervix)

enteritis (inflammation of the intestine (especially the small intestine); usually characterized by diarrhea)

epicondylitis (painful inflammation of the muscles and soft tissues around an epicondyle)

epididymitis (painful inflammation of the epididymis)

epiglottitis (inflammation of the epiglottis; characterized by fever and a severe sore throat and difficulty in swallowing)

episcleritis (inflammation of the sclera of the eye)

esophagitis; oesophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus; often caused by gastroesophageal reflux)

fibrositis (inflammation of white fibrous tissues (especially muscle sheaths))

fibromyositis (local inflammation of muscle and connective tissue)

folliculitis (inflammation of a hair follicle)

funiculitis (inflammation of a funiculus (especially an inflammation of the spermatic cord))

gastritis (inflammation of the lining of the stomach; nausea and loss of appetite and discomfort after eating)

glossitis (inflammation of the tongue)

hydrarthrosis (inflammation and swelling of a movable joint because of excess synovial fluid)

ileitis (inflammation of the ileum)

iridocyclitis (inflammation of the iris and ciliary body of the eye)

iridokeratitis (inflammation of the iris and cornea of the eye)

iritis (inflammation of the iris)

jejunitis (inflammation of the jejunum of the small intestine)

jejunoileitis (inflammation of the jejunum and the ileum of the small intestine)

keratitis (inflammation of the cornea causing watery painful eyes and blurred vision)

keratoconjunctivitis (inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva)

keratoiritis (inflammation of the cornea and the iris of the eye)

keratoscleritis (inflammation of the cornea and sclera of the eye)

founder; laminitis (inflammation of the laminated tissue that attaches the hoof to the foot of a horse)

laryngitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the larynx; characterized by hoarseness or loss of voice and coughing)

laryngopharyngitis (inflammation of the larynx and pharynx)

laryngotracheobronchitis (inflammation of the larynx and trachea and bronchial passageways)

lymphadenitis (inflammation of lymph nodes)

lymphangitis (inflammation of a lymph vessel)

mastitis (inflammation of a breast (or udder))

mastoiditis (inflammation of the mastoid)

endometritis; metritis (inflammation of the lining of the uterus (of the endometrium))

myelitis (inflammation of the spinal cord)

myositis (inflammation of muscle tissue)

myometritis (inflammation of the myometrium)

neuritis (inflammation of a nerve accompanied by pain and sometimes loss of function)

oophoritis (inflammation of one or both ovaries)

orchitis (inflammation of one or both testes; characterized by pain and swelling)

osteitis (inflammation of a bone as a consequence of infection or trauma or degeneration)

otitis (inflammation of the ear)

ovaritis (inflammation of the ovaries)

pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas; usually marked by abdominal pain)

parametritis (inflammation of connective tissue adjacent to the uterus)

parotitis (inflammation of one or both parotid glands)

peritoneal inflammation; peritonitis (inflammation of the peritoneum)

phalangitis (inflammation of a finger or toe)

phlebitis (inflammation of a vein (usually in the legs))

pneumonitis (inflammation of the lungs; caused by a virus or an allergic reaction)

posthitis (inflammation of the foreskin of the penis; usually caused by bacterial infection)

proctitis (inflammation of the rectum; marked by bloody stools and a frequent urge to defecate; frequently associated with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis)

prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland characterized by perineal pain and irregular urination and (if severe) chills and fever)

rachitis (inflammation of the vertebral column)

radiculitis (inflammation of the radicle of a nerve)

retinitis (inflammation of the retina)

coryza; rhinitis (an inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the nose (usually associated with nasal discharge))

sinusitis (inflammation of one of the paranasal sinuses)

salpingitis (inflammation of a Fallopian tube (usually the result of infection spreading from the vagina or uterus) or of a Eustachian tube)

scleritis (inflammation of the sclera)

sialadenitis (inflammation of the salivary glands)

splenitis (inflammation of the spleen)

spondylitis (inflammation of a spinal joint; characterized by pain and stiffness)

stomatitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth)

synovitis (inflammation of the synovial membrane that lines a synovial joint; results in pain and swelling)

tarsitis (inflammation of the eyelid)

tendinitis; tendonitis; tenonitis (inflammation of a tendon)

thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland)

tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils (especially the palatine tonsils))

tracheitis (inflammation of the trachea)

tracheobronchitis (common respiratory infection characterized by inflammation of the trachea and the bronchi)

tympanitis (inflammation of the inner ear)

ulitis (inflammation of the gums)

ureteritis (inflammation of the ureter)

uveitis (inflammation of the uvea of the eye)

uvulitis (inflammation of the uvula)

vaginitis (inflammation of the vagina (usually associated with candidiasis))

valvulitis (inflammation of a valve (especially of a cardiac valve as a consequence of rheumatic fever))

vasculitis (inflammation of a blood vessel)

vasovesiculitis (inflammation of the vas deferens and seminal vesicles; usually occurring with prostatitis)

vesiculitis (inflammation of a seminal vesicle (usually in conjunction with prostatitis))

vulvitis (inflammation of the vulva)

vulvovaginitis (inflammation of the vulva and the vagina)

shin splints (painful inflammation of the muscles around the shins; frequent among runners)

Holonyms ("inflammation" is a part of...):

inflammatory disease (a disease characterized by inflammation)

Derivation:

inflame (become inflamed; get sore)

inflame (cause inflammation in)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The state of being emotionally aroused and worked up

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

excitation; excitement; fervor; fervour; inflammation

Context example:

he tried to calm those who were in a state of extreme inflammation

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

emotional arousal (the arousal of strong emotions and emotional behavior)

Attribute:

exciting (creating or arousing excitement)

unexciting (not exciting)

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

fever pitch (a state of extreme excitement)

sensation (a state of widespread public excitement and interest)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Arousal to violent emotion

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

inflaming; inflammation

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

arousal; rousing (the act of arousing)

Derivation:

inflame (arouse or excite feelings and passions)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The act of setting something on fire

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

firing; ignition; inflammation; kindling; lighting

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

burning; combustion (the act of burning something)

Derivation:

inflame (cause to start burning)

inflame (catch fire)

 Context examples 

An acute inflammation of the tonsils caused by viruses or bacteria.

(Acute Tonsillitis, NCI Thesaurus)

An acute inflammation of a synovial membrane.

(Acute Synovitis, NCI Thesaurus)

Inflammation of the appendages of the uterus.

(Adnexitis, NCI Thesaurus)

Inflammation of the muscle tissue of the heart.

(Myocarditis, NCI Thesaurus)

Low serum levels occur in conditions associated with malnutrition, inflammation and liver and kidney diseases.

(Albumin, NCI Thesaurus)

A drug used to treat fever, swelling, pain, and redness by preventing the body from making a substance that causes inflammation.

(Advil, NCI Dictionary)

A disorder characterized by inflammation of the muscle tissue of the heart.

(Myocarditis, NCI Thesaurus/CTCAE)

Inflammation of the muscular walls of the heart.

(Myocarditis, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

A drug that reduces pain and fever (but not inflammation).

(Acetaminophen, NCI Dictionary)

Our study shows eating fish just twice a week can significantly decrease lung inflammation in children with asthma.

(Fish-Rich Diet Beneficial for Children with Asthma, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)