contagion

con·ta·gion  (kn-tjn)

n.

1.

a. Disease transmission by direct or indirect contact.

b. A disease that is or may be transmitted by direct or indirect contact; a contagious disease.

c. The direct cause, such as a bacterium or virus, of a communicable disease.

2. Psychology The spread of a behavior pattern, attitude, or emotion from person to person or group to group through suggestion, propaganda, rumor, or imitation.

3. A harmful, corrupting influence: feared that violence on television was a contagion affecting young viewers.

4. The tendency to spread, as of a doctrine, influence, or emotional state.

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[Middle English contagioun, from Latin contgi, contgin-, from contingere, contct-, to touch; see contact.]

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contagion

Noun

1. the passing on of disease by contact

2. a contagious disease

3. a corrupting influence that tends to spread [Latin contagio infection]

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contagion  (kn-tjn)

1. The transmission of an infectious disease resulting from direct or indirect contact between individuals or animals.

2. A disease that is transmitted in this way.

3. The agent that causes a contagious disease, such as a bacterium or a virus.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	contagion - any disease easily transmitted by contact contagious disease communicable disease - a disease that can be communicated from one person to another flu, grippe, influenza - an acute febrile highly contagious viral disease measles, morbilli, rubeola - an acute and highly contagious viral disease marked by distinct red spots followed by a rash; occurs primarily in children diphtheria - acute contagious infection caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae; marked by the formation of a false membrane in the throat and other air passages causing difficulty in breathing scarlatina, scarlet fever - an acute communicable disease (usually in children) characterized by fever and a red rash pox - a contagious disease characterized by purulent skin eruptions that may leave pock marks trench mouth, Vincent's angina, Vincent's infection - an acute communicable infection of the respiratory tract and mouth marked by ulceration of the mucous membrane sexually transmitted disease, social disease, STD, VD, venereal disease, venereal infection, Venus's curse, Cupid's disease, Cupid's itch, dose - a communicable infection transmitted by sexual intercourse or genital contact
	2.	contagion - an incident in which an infectious disease is transmitted infection, transmission incident - a single distinct event
	3.	contagion - the communication of an attitude or emotional state among a number of people; "a contagion of mirth"; "the infection of his enthusiasm for poetry" infection communication - something that is communicated by or to or between people or groups

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contagion

noun spread, spreading, communication, passage, proliferation, diffusion, transference, dissemination, dispersal, transmittal