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contagious - 7 dictionary results
con⋅ta⋅gious
[kuh
n-tey-juhs] 
–adjective
| 1. | capable of being transmitted by bodily contact with an infected person or object: contagious diseases. |
| 2. | carrying or spreading a contagious disease. |
| 3. | tending to spread from person to person: contagious laughter. |
Related forms:
con⋅ta⋅gious⋅ly, adverb
con⋅ta⋅gious⋅ness, con⋅ta⋅gi⋅os⋅i⋅ty [kuhn-tey-jee-os-i-tee] , noun
[kuhn-tey-jee-os-i-tee] , noun Synonyms:
1. Contagious, infectious are usually distinguished in technical medical use. Contagious, literally “communicable by contact,” describes a very easily transmitted disease as influenza or the common cold. Infectious refers to a disease involving a microorganism that can be transmitted from one person to another only by a specific kind of contact; venereal diseases are usually infectious. In nontechnical senses, contagious emphasizes the rapidity with which something spreads: Contagious laughter ran through the hall. Infectious suggests the pleasantly irresistible quality of something: Her infectious good humor made her a popular guest.
1. Contagious, infectious are usually distinguished in technical medical use. Contagious, literally “communicable by contact,” describes a very easily transmitted disease as influenza or the common cold. Infectious refers to a disease involving a microorganism that can be transmitted from one person to another only by a specific kind of contact; venereal diseases are usually infectious. In nontechnical senses, contagious emphasizes the rapidity with which something spreads: Contagious laughter ran through the hall. Infectious suggests the pleasantly irresistible quality of something: Her infectious good humor made her a popular guest.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To contagious
| con·ta·gious (kən-tā'jəs) adj.
|
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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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Contagious
Con*ta"gious\, a. [L. contagiosus: cf. F. contagieux.]1. (Med.) Communicable by contact, by a virus, or by a bodily exhalation; catching; as, a contagious disease. 2. Conveying or generating disease; pestilential; poisonous; as, contagious air. 3. Spreading or communicable from one to another; exciting similar emotions or conduct in others. His genius rendered his courage more contagious. --Wirt. The spirit of imitation is contagious. --Ames. Syn: Contagious, Infectious. Usage: These words have been used in very diverse senses; but, in general, a contagious disease has been considered as one which is caught from another by contact, by the breath, by bodily effluvia, etc.; while an infectious disease supposes some entirely different cause acting by a hidden influence, like the miasma of prison ships, of marshes, etc., infecting the system with disease. "This distinction, though not universally admitted by medical men, as to the literal meaning of the words, certainly applies to them in their figurative use. Thus we speak of the contagious influence of evil associates; their contagion of bad example, the contagion of fear, etc., when we refer to transmission by proximity or contact. On the other hand, we speak of infection by bad principles, etc., when we consider anything as diffused by some hidden influence.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : contagious
Spanish:
contagioso,
German:
ansteckend,
Japanese:
接触伝染性の
contagious
c.1374, from O.Fr. contagieus, from L.L. contagiosus, from contingere "touch closely" (see contact).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: con·ta·gious
Pronunciation: -j&s
Function: adjective
1 : communicable by contact
2 : bearing contagion
3 : used for contagious diseasescontagious ward> —con·ta·gious·ly adverb —con·ta·gious·ness noun
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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contagious con·ta·gious (kən-tā'jəs)
adj.
- Of or relating to contagion.
- Transmissible by direct or indirect contact; communicable.
- Capable of transmitting disease; carrying a disease.
con·ta'gious·ness n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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contagious (kən-tā'jəs) Pronunciation Key
Our Living Language : A contagious disease is one that can be transmitted from one living being to another through direct or indirect contact. Thus the flu, which can be transmitted by coughing, and cholera, which is often acquired by drinking contaminated water, are contagious diseases. Although infectious is also used to refer to such diseases, it has a slightly different meaning in that it refers to diseases caused by infectious agents—agents such as viruses and bacteria that are not normally present in the body and can cause an infection. While the notion of contagiousness goes back to ancient times, the idea of infectious diseases is more modern, coming from the germ theory of disease, which was not proposed until the later nineteenth century. Contagious and infectious are also used to refer to people who have communicable diseases at a stage at which transmission to others is likely. |
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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