infection
//ɪnˈfɛkʃən//
Forms
- Plural
- infections
Definitions
1.The act or process of infecting.
2.An uncontrolled growth of harmful microorganisms in a host.
3.A disease caused by such presence of a pathogen.
- And researchers at the National Institutes of Health report finding candidalike fungus infections in the blood of AIDS victims.
- As the previously used chemotherapeutic agents have only proved themselves to be spirochetostatic and not spirochetocidal, the patient is liable to a delayed infection which may not become manifest for years.
4.A visible sign of such a disease, such as the suppuration of a wound.
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #2497
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Synonyms
Etymology
From Old French infection, from Late Latin īnfectiō.
Equivalent to infect + -ion.