gangrene
[ gang-green, gang-green ]
/ ˈgæŋ grin, gæŋˈgrin /
noun
necrosis or death of soft tissue due to obstructed circulation, usually followed by decomposition and putrefaction.
moral or spiritual corruption and decadence that pervades an individual or group: “This church body has been afflicted with a spiritual gangrene that is poisoning our relationship with the Lord,” the preacher expostulated.
verb (used with or without object), gan·grened, gan·gren·ing.
to affect or become affected with gangrene.
Origin of gangrene
1535–45; < Middle French
gangrene (earlier
cancrene) < Latin
gangraena < Greek
gángraina ‘an eating sore’
OTHER WORDS FROM gangrene
gan·gre·nous [gang-gruh-nuh s] /ˈgæŋ grə nəs/, adjective non·gan·gre·nous, adjective un·gan·grened, adjective un·gan·gre·nous, adjectiveWords nearby gangrene
gangly,
gangnail,
gangplank,
gangpunch,
gangrel,
gangrene,
gangrenous stomatitis,
gangsta rap,
gangster,
gangster chic,
gangsterism
Example sentences from the Web for gangrene
British Dictionary definitions for gangrene
gangrene
/ (ˈɡæŋɡriːn) /
noun
death and decay of tissue as the result of interrupted blood supply, disease, or injury
moral decay or corruption
verb
to become or cause to become affected with gangrene
Derived forms of gangrene
gangrenous (ˈɡæŋɡrɪnəs), adjectiveWord Origin for gangrene
C16: from Latin
gangraena, from Greek
gangraina an eating sore; related to Greek
gran to gnaw
Medical definitions for gangrene
gangrene
[ găng′grēn′, găng-grēn′ ]
n.
Death and decay of body tissue, often in a limb, caused by insufficient blood supply and usually following injury or disease.
Other words from gangrene
gan′gre•nous (găng′grə-nəs) adj.Scientific definitions for gangrene
gangrene
[ găng′grēn′ ]
Death of tissue in a living body, especially in a limb, caused by a bacterial infection resulting from a blockage of the blood supply to the affected tissue.
Cultural definitions for gangrene
gangrene
[ (gang-green, gang-green) ]
The death and decay of body tissue owing to insufficient supply of blood.