gangrene
/'gæɳgri:n/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- The localized death of living cells (as from infection or the interruption of blood supply): Gangrene refers to the death and decay of body tissue, typically in a limb, due to a lack of blood flow or a serious bacterial infection.
- Necrotic tissue; a mortified or gangrenous part or mass: Gangrene can also refer to the mass of dead tissue itself.
Verb:
- To undergo necrosis; to become affected with gangrene: This describes the process where tissue dies and decays.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The doctor warned that without immediate surgery, the injury could lead to gangrene.
- The gangrene in his foot had a foul odor and required amputation.
- Verb:
- If the blood supply is not restored, the tissue will begin to gangrene.
- The wound became infected and started to gangrene.
Advanced Usage
- "Dry gangrene": A type of gangrene where the tissue dies and dries out, often due to a lack of blood flow, without bacterial infection.
- Dry gangrene often affects the toes and feet of individuals with advanced diabetes or atherosclerosis.
- "Wet gangrene": A type of gangrene involving bacterial infection, leading to swelling, blistering, and a wet appearance.
- Wet gangrene is a medical emergency as the infection can spread rapidly through the bloodstream.
- "Gas gangrene": A severe form of wet gangrene caused by specific bacteria that produce gas within the tissue.
- Gas gangrene is often associated with traumatic injuries and can be fatal if not treated aggressively with antibiotics and surgery.
Variants and Related Words
- Gangrenous (adj): Describing tissue that is affected by or characteristic of gangrene.
- The surgeon removed the gangrenous tissue to save the patient's life.
- Necrosis (n): The death of cells or tissue, which is the broader process underlying gangrene.
- Mortification (n): An older, less clinical term for gangrene or necrosis.
Synonyms
- Necrosis: (Medical) Death of tissue.
- Mortification: (Archaic/Formal) Death of body tissue.
- Rot: (Informal) Decomposition or decay of tissue.
Related Phrases
- "To develop gangrene": To begin to suffer from the condition.
- The frostbite was so severe that he developed gangrene in his fingers.
- "To be at risk of gangrene": To be in a situation where gangrene is a likely complication.
- Patients with peripheral artery disease are at high risk of gangrene.
Related Idioms
Note: There are no common idioms that use the word "gangrene" directly, as it is a specific medical term. It is sometimes used metaphorically to describe something that is corrupting or decaying from within. - Metaphorical use: The gangrene of corruption had spread throughout the organization, destroying it from the inside.
Noun
- the localized death of living cells (as from infection or the interruption of blood supply)
- necrotic tissue; a mortified or gangrenous part or mass
Verb
- undergo necrosis
- the tissue around the wound necrosed