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contagion

 - 6 dictionary results

con⋅ta⋅gion

[kuhn-tey-juhn]
–noun
1. the communication of disease by direct or indirect contact.
2. a disease so communicated.
3. the medium by which a contagious disease is transmitted.
4. harmful or undesirable contact or influence.
5. the ready transmission or spread as of an idea or emotion from person to person: a contagion of fear.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME (< MF) < L contāgiōn- (s. of contāgiō) contact, infection, equiv. to con- con- + tāg- (var. s. of tangere to touch) + -iōn- -ion; cf. contact


con⋅ta⋅gioned, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To contagion
con·ta·gion   (kən-tā'jən)   
n.  
    1. Disease transmission by direct or indirect contact.

    2. A disease that is or may be transmitted by direct or indirect contact; a contagious disease.

    3. The direct cause, such as a bacterium or virus, of a communicable disease.

  1. Psychology The spread of a behavior pattern, attitude, or emotion from person to person or group to group through suggestion, propaganda, rumor, or imitation.

  2. A harmful, corrupting influence: feared that violence on television was a contagion affecting young viewers.

  3. The tendency to spread, as of a doctrine, influence, or emotional state.


[Middle English contagioun, from Latin contāgiō, contāgiōn-, from contingere, contāct-, to touch; see contact.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Financial Dictionary

Contagion

The likelihood of significant economic changes in one country spreading to other countries. This can refer to either economic booms or economic crises.

Investopedia Commentary

An infamous example is the "Asian Contagion&quot that occurred in 1997 and started in Thailand. The economic crisis in Thailand spread to bordering southeast Asian countries and then eventually spilled over to Latin America.

Related Links

What Is An Emerging Market Economy?
Investing Beyond Your Borders

See also: Association of Southeast Asian Nations - ASEAN, Boom, Country Risk, Tiger Economy, Trade

Investopedia.com. Copyright © 1999-2005 - All rights reserved. Owned and Operated by Investopedia Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: con·ta·gion
Pronunciation: k&n-'tA-j&n
Function: noun
1 : the transmission of a disease by direct or indirectcontact
2 : CONTAGIOUS DISEASE
3 : a disease-producing agent (as a virus)
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

contagion con·ta·gion (kən-tā'jən)
n.

  1. Disease transmission by direct or indirect contact.

  2. A disease that is or may be transmitted by direct or indirect contact; a contagious disease.

  3. See contagium.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
contagion   (kən-tā'jən)  Pronunciation Key 
  1. The transmission of an infectious disease resulting from direct or indirect contact between individuals or animals.

  2. A disease that is transmitted in this way.

  3. The agent that causes a contagious disease, such as a bacterium or a virus.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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