in·fec·tion ( n-f k sh n)n. 1. a. Invasion by and multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms in a bodily part or tissue, which may produce subsequent tissue injury and progress to overt disease through a variety of cellular or toxic mechanisms. b. An instance of being infected. c. An agent or a contaminated substance responsible for one's becoming infected. d. The pathological state resulting from having been infected. 2. An infectious disease. 3. a. Moral contamination or corruption. b. Ready communication of an emotion or attitude by contact or example. |
infection [ɪnˈfɛkʃən]
n
1. (Medicine / Pathology) invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms
2. (Medicine / Pathology) the resulting condition in the tissues
3. (Medicine / Pathology) an infectious disease
4. the act of infecting or state of being infected
5. an agent or influence that infects
6. persuasion or corruption, as by ideas, perverse influences, etc.
| infection (n-fkshn) The invasion of the body of a human or an animal by a pathogen such as a bacterium, fungus, or virus. Infections can be localized, as in pharyngitis, or widespread as in sepsis, and are often accompanied by fever and an increased number of white blood cells. Individuals with immunodeficiency syndromes are predisposed to certain infections. See also infectious diseaseopportunistic infection |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  infection - the pathological state resulting from the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganismshealth problem, ill health, unhealthiness - a state in which you are unable to function normally and without pain enterobiasis - an infestation with or a resulting infection caused by the pinworm Enterobius vermicularis; occurs especially in children whitlow, felon - a purulent infection at the end of a finger or toe in the area surrounding the nail focal infection - bacterial infection limited to a specific organ or region especially one causing symptoms elsewhere cross infection, nonsocial infection - an infection that is acquired at a hospital or other healthcare facility 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) paronychia - infection in the tissues adjacent to a nail on a finger or toe protozoal infection - any infection caused by a protozoan respiratory infection, respiratory tract infection - any infection of the respiratory tract itch, scabies - a contagious skin infection caused by the itch mite; characterized by persistent itching and skin irritation; "he has a bad case of the itch" 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 sepsis - the presence of pus-forming bacteria or their toxins in the blood or tissues sore - an open skin infection staphylococcal infection - an infection with staphylococcus bacteria; usually marked by abscess formation septic sore throat, strep throat, streptococcal sore throat, streptococcus tonsilitis, throat infection - an infection of the oral pharynx and tonsils by streptococcus superinfection - infection that occurs while you are being treated for another infection suprainfection - secondary infection caused by an opportunistic infection tapeworm infection - intestinal infection by a species of parasitic tapeworm; usually the result of eating inadequately cooked meat or fish 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 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 viral infection, virus infection - infection by a virus that is pathogenic to humans 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 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 |
| 2. | infection - (phonetics) the alteration of a speech sound under the influence of a neighboring sound phonetics - the branch of acoustics concerned with speech processes including its production and perception and acoustic analysis linguistic process - a process involved in human language | |
| 3. | infection - (medicine) the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms and their multiplication which can lead to tissue damage and disease medical specialty, medicine - the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques pathologic process, pathological process - an organic process occurring as a consequence of disease zymosis - (medicine) the development and spread of an infectious disease (especially one caused by a fungus) | |
| 4. | infection - an incident in which an infectious disease is transmitted incident - a single distinct event | |
| 5. | infection - the communication of an attitude or emotional state among a number of people; "a contagion of mirth"; "the infection of his enthusiasm for poetry" communication - something that is communicated by or to or between people or groups | |
| 6. | infection - moral corruption or contamination; "ambitious men are led astray by an infection that is almost unavoidable" corruption, corruptness - lack of integrity or honesty (especially susceptibility to bribery); use of a position of trust for dishonest gain | |
| 7. | infection - (international law) illegality that taints or contaminates a ship or cargo rendering it liable to seizure illegality - unlawfulness by virtue of violating some legal statute law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order" |
infection
noun disease, condition, complaint, illness, virus, disorder, corruption, poison, pollution, contamination, contagion, defilement, septicity Ear infections are common in pre-school children.
Translations
infection [ɪnˈfekʃən] N
infection [ɪnˈfɛkʃən] n → infection f
risk of infection → risque d'infection
to be resistant to infection → résister à l'infection ear infection, throat infection
infection rate n [disease] → taux m d'infection
risk of infection → risque d'infection
to be resistant to infection → résister à l'infection ear infection, throat infection
infection rate n [disease] → taux m d'infection
infection
n
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