infectious — 1 Infectious, contagious, communicable, catchingin their basic use as applied to diseases are distinguishable though closely similar in meaning. Infectious designates a disease resulting from the invasion of and multiplication in the body by… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
Infectious — In*fec tious, a. [Cf. F. infectieux.] [1913 Webster] 1. Having qualities that may infect; communicable or caused by infection; pestilential; epidemic; as, an infectious fever; infectious clothing; infectious water; infectious vices. [1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
infectious — [adj] catching, spreading communicable, contagious, contaminating, corrupting, defiling, diseased, epidemic, infective, mephitic, miasmic, noxious, pestilent, pestilential, poisoning, polluting, toxic, transferable, transmittable, virulent,… … New thesaurus
infectious — [in fek′shəs] adj. 1. likely to cause infection; containing disease producing organisms or matter 2. designating a disease that can be communicated by INFECTION (sense 2) 3. tending to spread or to affect others; catching [an infectious laugh] 4 … English World dictionary
infectious — index contagious, harmful, pestilent Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
infectious — catching, having the quality of spreading from person to person, 1540s of diseases, 1610s of emotions, actions, etc.; see INFECT (Cf. infect) + OUS (Cf. ous) … Etymology dictionary
infectious — see contagious … Modern English usage
infectious — ► ADJECTIVE 1) (of a disease or disease causing organism) liable to be transmitted through the environment. 2) liable to spread infection. 3) likely to spread to or influence others. DERIVATIVES infectiously adverb infectiousness noun … English terms dictionary
infectious — in|fec|tious [ınˈfekʃəs] adj 1.) an infectious illness can be passed from one person to another, especially through the air you breathe ▪ infectious diseases ▪ Flu is highly infectious. 2.) someone who is infectious has an illness and could pass… … Dictionary of contemporary English
infectious — in|fec|tious [ ın fekʃəs ] adjective * 1. ) an infectious disease is one that can spread from one person to another: The condition is highly infectious. a ) used about a person or animal that has an infectious disease: The animals were still… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
infectious */ — UK [ɪnˈfekʃəs] / US adjective 1) a) an infectious disease is one that can spread from one person to another The condition is highly infectious. b) used about a person or animal that has an infectious disease The animals were still infectious when … English dictionary
