abscess Definition
ab·scess (ab′ses′)
noun
a swollen, inflamed area in body tissues, in which pus gathers
Etymology: L abscessus < abscedere, to go from < ab(s)-, from + cedere, to go: from the notion that humors go from the body into the swelling
intransitive verb
to form an abscess
abscess Related Forms
ab′·scessed′ adjective
abscess Synonyms
abscess Usage Examples
Converse of object
- drain: You should seek advice from a dentist urgently to get the abscess drained.
- treat: Your own Doctor may have tried to treat the abscess with antibiotics.
- cause: Francois, the Ulysses resident dentist, repaired my tooth, saying the epoxy glue applied in Cape Town would have caused an abscess.
- remove: He was admitted to Leeds general infirmary where he underwent surgery to remove a cerebral abscess.
- develop: He developed an abscess in the ear which steadily worsened.
Adjective modifier
- amoebic: Serological test methods for the detection of anti-amoebic antibodies remain extremely useful for the diagnosis of amoebic liver abscess.
- pyogenic: Amebic liver abscess: a study of 11 cases compared with a series of 38 patients with pyogenic liver abscess.
- amebic: Amebic liver abscess: a study of 11 cases compared with a series of 38 patients with pyogenic liver abscess.
- pilonidal: Has the operation to remove a pilonidal abscess changed much in the last 32 years?
- intra-abdominal: Intra-abdominal abscesses are an infrequent complication, particularly seen in those with perforated appendicitis.
- epidural: Meningitis has been described, as has epidural abscess.
Modifies a noun
- cavity: Both had perforated at the site forming an abscess cavity.
- drainage: However, abscess drainage or spinal fusion for progressive deformity may be necessary.
- formation: Infection without abscess formation producing such a picture is a rarity.
Noun used with modifier
- liver: Amebic liver abscess: a study of 11 cases compared with a series of 38 patients with pyogenic liver abscess.
- brain: People who survive a brain abscess may suffer damage to the brain.
- tooth: A diabetic patient with an open wound in his neck as a result of a surgically drained tooth abscess.
- lung: They may also come with a gurgling lump in the left side of the neck and rarely with a lung abscess.
- skin: A skin abscess is usually self-healing in a healthy adult.
- foot: Here, one of our elephants suffers from a foot abscess, which has been treated consistently for 8 weeks.
Browse dictionary entries near abscess
- abscise ›
- abscisic acid ›
- abscissa ›
- abscission ›
- abscond ›
- Abse, Dannie ›
- abseil ›
- absence ›
- absent ›
- absent-minded ›

