infectious Hear it!

infectious Definition

in·fec·tious (in fek′s̸həs)

adjective

  1. likely to cause infection; containing disease-producing organisms or matter
  2. designating a disease that can be communicated by infection (sense )
  3. tending to spread or to affect others; catching an infectious laugh
  4. Obsolete infected with disease

infectious Related Forms

in·fec′·tiously adverb in·fec′·tious·ness noun

infectious Synonyms

infectious

modif.

catching, communicable, transmissible, irresistible; see catching, contagious, dangerous 2.

infectious Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • disease: Research areas: Infectious disease, Malaria, Genomics, Vaccines.
  • mononucleosis: People who have infectious mononucleosis may be able to spread the infection to others for a period of weeks.
  • anemia: This fact sheet provides information on equine infectious anemia ( EIA ), a contagious and potentially fatal viral disease of horses.
  • enthusiasm: He contributes infectious enthusiasm to all forms of teaching using a wide range of media.
  • agent: Back to top V Virus A small type of infectious agent.
  • melody: With intention they marry an ear for infectious melodies to a healthy dose of social consciousness.

Modifying Another Word

  • musically: This promises to be visually spectacular, musically infectious and darkly comic.
  • highly: The highly infectious nature of the disease prompted a search for a viral agent.
  • potentially: These reagents should be marked ` potentially infectious - not tested at source for.
  • utterly: Still, it's utterly infectious and totally irresistible.
  • incredibly: Outstanding tracks include the latest single ' Only This Moment ' , the incredibly infectious ' Triumphant ' and ' Follow My Ruin ' .
  • instantly: Incorporating rumba, ragga, Spanish guitar and myriad African beats, their music is instantly infectious and delivered with impeccable artistry.

Used with adjective complement

  • remain: Once you have the virus you remain infectious for life.
  • prove: Many local bands are taking their contemporary Celtic sound to foreign shores where it's proving infectious.
  • become: In Essex, however, ambition seems to have become infectious.
  • consider: Blood, semen or vaginal secretions, and human milk from a person with HIV are considered infectious.

Preposition: in

way: Notwithstanding my flippant opening remarks about cribbing each other's business plans, there is scope for best practice becoming infectious in this way.

Preposition: with

TB: There is already clear evidence that cattle are infectious with bovine TB long before the skin test identifies the problem.

Preposition: for

  • human: Vaccination of laboratory workers handling vaccinia and related poxviruses infectious for humans.
  • hour: A person remains infectious for 48 hours after their symptoms have ceased.