contagion Hear it!

contagion definition

con·ta·gion (kən tā′jən)

noun

  1. the spreading of disease from one individual to another by direct or indirect contact
  2. any disease thus spread; contagious disease
  3. the causative agent of a communicable disease; bacteria or virus
  4. contagious quality
    1. the spreading of an emotion, idea, custom, etc. from person to person until many are affected the contagion of mirth
    2. the emotion, idea, etc. so spread
  6. a bad influence that tends to spread; corruption

Etymology: ME contagioun < L contagio, a touching < contingere: see contact

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.