Definition of infection Infection

/ɪnfɛˈkʃʌn/ - [infekshun] - in•fec•tion

We found 19 definitions of infection from 6 different sources.

What does infection mean?

WordNet

Noun Plural: infections
infection - the pathological state resulting from the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms
		health 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 low-growing annual or perennial herbs or woody plants; whitlowworts
		protozoal infection any infection caused by a protozoan
		respiratory infection, respiratory tract infection any infection of the respiratory tract
		scabies, itch 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
		eye infection, hordeolum, stye, sty a pen for swine
		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 a sustained muscular contraction resulting from a rapid series of nerve impulses
		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, variola vaccina, variola vaccine, variola vaccinia, 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
infection - (medicine) the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms and their multiplication which can lead to tissue damage and disease
		pathologic process, pathological process an organic process occurring as a consequence of disease
		medical specialty, medicine the learned profession that is mastered by graduate training in a medical school and that is devoted to preventing or alleviating or curing diseases and injuries; "he studied medicine at Harvard"
infection - an incident in which an infectious disease is transmitted
		contagion, transmission
		incident a single distinct event
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
infection - (phonetics) the alteration of a speech sound under the influence of a neighboring sound
		linguistic process the cognitive processes involved in producing and understanding linguistic communication; "he didn't have the language to express his feelings"
infection - moral corruption or contamination; "ambitious men are led astray by an infection that is almost unavoidable"
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"
		contagion
		communication something that is communicated by or to or between people or groups

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Wiktionary

infection (Noun)
The act or process of infecting.
infection (Noun)
An uncontrolled growth of harmful microorganisms in a host.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

infection (n.)
The act or process of infecting.
infection (n.)
That which infects, or causes the communicated disease; any effluvium, miasm, or pestilential matter by which an infectious disease is caused.
infection (n.)
The state of being infected; contamination by morbific particles; the result of infecting influence; a prevailing disease; epidemic.
infection (n.)
That which taints or corrupts morally; as, the infection of vicious principles.
infection (n.)
Contamination by illegality, as in cases of contraband goods; implication.
infection (n.)
Sympathetic communication of like qualities or emotions; influence.

OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω

infection
Entry and development or multiplication of an infectious agent in the body of a living organism.
infection
Process in which a disease is transmitted.

Wikipedia

Some diseases are caused by infection. Infection is when another organism gets into a person's body and causes harm. There are many kinds of infectious agents: viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungus. These four kinds of infectious agents cause most infectious disease. There are other kinds though. For example mad cow disease ("Bovine spongiform encephalopathy") is caused by prions. Prions are a form of virus that are basically abnormal clumps of proteins. We are not even sure that prions are alive. But they act just like other infectious diseases.

Diseases caused by many infectious agents.

Some infections are caused by different infectious agents at different times. For example, some diarrhea is caused by bacteria. Some is caused by viruses.

This is a very short list. There are many more diseases from infection and other causes: common diseases.

Getting infectious disease.

Some diseases can be passed from one person to another easily. Other infectious diseases are harder to get. If a person kiss or touches another person who is infected with the flu, a cold, measles, or a sore throat, he or she may get their disease. They may also give the person their disease if they cough on them. Other diseases like AIDS, herpes, and hepatitis B, are only passed by closer contact. Having sex with an infected person, blood transfusions, or touching their blood or urine can sometimes pass these diseases.

Treating infectious disease.

Bacteria are usually treated with antibiotic medicines li