# infection

Pronunciation: say "in-FEK-shuhn" /ɪnˈfɛkʃən/

## Noun

1. A disease caused by the presence of a harmful pathogen in the body.
   - Simple: A sickness caused when germs like bacteria or viruses get into the body.
   - _The neglected wound turned into a serious infection within days._
   - _Untreated infections can spread from the lungs to other organs._
2. A condition in which harmful microorganisms multiply unchecked inside a host organism.
   - Simple: When harmful germs grow out of control inside a living body.
   - _Antibiotics target the infection by killing the multiplying bacteria._
   - _A weakened immune system lets infections take hold more easily._
3. The act or process by which a pathogen enters a host and begins to cause disease.
   - Simple: The way germs get into the body and start to cause illness.
   - _Proper sterilization greatly reduces the risk of infection during surgery._
   - _Mosquitoes are responsible for the infection of millions of people with malaria each year._
4. A visible sign of infection, such as the formation of pus in a wound.
   - Simple: A visible sign of illness, like pus coming out of a cut or wound.
   - _The swelling and discharge were clear signs of infection at the wound site._
   - _Doctors look for visible infection before deciding how to treat the cut._

## Origin

From Old French infection, which came from Late Latin īnfectiō. It is equivalent to 'infect' plus the suffix '-ion'.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/infection (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).