invasive

[ in-vey-siv ]
/ ɪnˈveɪ sɪv /

adjective

characterized by or involving invasion; offensive: invasive war.
invading, or tending to invade; intrusive.
Medicine/Medical. requiring the entry of a needle, catheter, or other instrument into a part of the body, especially in a diagnostic procedure, as a biopsy.

Origin of invasive

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word invāsīvus. See invasion, -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM invasive

un·in·va·sive, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for invasive

British Dictionary definitions for invasive

invasive
/ (ɪnˈveɪsɪv) /

adjective

of or relating to an invasion, intrusion, etc
relating to or denoting cancer at the stage at which it has spread from its site of origin to other tissues
(of surgery) involving making a relatively large incision in the body to gain access to the target of the surgery, as opposed to making a small incision or gaining access endoscopically through a natural orifice

Medical definitions for invasive

invasive
[ ĭn-vāsĭv ]

adj.

Marked by the tendency to spread, especially into healthy tissue, as a tumor.
Of or relating to a medical procedure in which a part of the body is entered, as by puncture or incision.

Other words from invasive

in•vasive•ness n.

Scientific definitions for invasive

invasive
[ ĭn-vāsĭv ]

  1. Relating to a disease or condition that has a tendency to spread, especially a malignant cancer that spreads into healthy tissue.
  2. Relating to a medical procedure in which a part of the body is entered, as by puncture or incision.
Not native to and tending to spread widely in a habitat or environment. Invasive species often have few natural predators or other biological controls in their new environment. Although not always considered harmful to an environment, invasive species can become agricultural or ecological pests and can displace native species from their habitats. Invasive species are often introduced to an environment unintentionally, as the zebra mussel was to the Great Lakes, but are sometimes introduced for a purpose, as kudzu was to the southern US, where it was originally planted to control erosion.