inflammation

[ in-fluh-mey-shuhn ]
See synonyms for inflammation on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. Pathology. redness, swelling, pain, tenderness, heat, and disturbed function of an area of the body, especially as a reaction of tissues to injurious agents.

  2. the act or fact of inflaming.

  1. the state of being inflamed.

Origin of inflammation

1
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin inflammātiōn-, stem of inflammātiō, from inflammāt(us) “kindled” (past participle of inflammāre “to kindle”; see inflame) + -iō -ion

Other words from inflammation

  • sub·in·flam·ma·tion, noun

Words Nearby inflammation

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use inflammation in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for inflammation

inflammation

/ (ˌɪnfləˈmeɪʃən) /


noun
  1. the reaction of living tissue to injury or infection, characterized by heat, redness, swelling, and pain

  2. the act of inflaming or the state of being inflamed

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for inflammation

inflammation

[ ĭn′flə-māshən ]


  1. The reaction of a part of the body to injury or infection, characterized by swelling, heat, redness, and pain. The process includes increased blood flow with an influx of white blood cells and other chemical substances that facilitate healing.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for inflammation

inflammation

The response of tissue to injury or infection. Pain, heat, redness, and swelling are the four basic symptoms of inflammation.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.