infectious

infectious

English

Adjective

infectious (comparative more infectious, superlative most infectious)

1. (pathology, of an illness) Transmitted from one person to another, usually through the air breathed.

   Cancer is not infectious.

   More infectious diseases like the flu are usually less potent.

2. (pathology, of a person) Able to infect others.

   Despite feeling better, the patient is still infectious.

3. (of feelings and behaviour) Spreading quickly from one person to another.

   Her enthusiasm for work can be really infectious.

4. (informal) Memorable and invoking excitement or interest.

   Pop music is more infectious than elevator music.

Synonyms

• (transmitted between persons as illness): catching, contagious
• (able to infect others): contagious
• (spreading quickly between persons): contagious
• (memorable and exciting): catchy, contagious

Derived terms

• infection
• toxicoinfectious

Translations

transmitted between persons as illness

Bashkir: йоғошло (yoğošlo) Bulgarian: заразен (bg) (zarazen) Catalan: infecciós (ca) Czech: nakažlivý (cs), infekční Finnish: tarttuva (fi), tartuntavaarallinen French: infectieux (fr) German: infektiös (de) Hindi: संक्रामक (hi) m (sankraamak) Irish: tógálach Italian: infettivo (it) Maori: hōrapa, hopuhopu Norwegian: Bokmål: smittsom

Polish: zaraźliwy (pl) Portuguese: infeccioso (pt) Romanian: infecțios (ro) m or n Russian: зара́зный (ru) (zaráznyj), инфекцио́нный (ru) (infekciónnyj) Scottish Gaelic: gabhaltach Spanish: infeccioso (es) Tagalog: nakahahawa Welsh: heintus (cy)

able to infect others

Bulgarian: заразен (bg) (zarazen), инфекциозен (bg) (infekciozen) Catalan: infecciós (ca) Czech: nakažlivý (cs) Finnish: tartuntavaarallinen French: contagieux (fr) German: infektiös (de) Irish: ionfhabhtaíoch Italian: infettivo (it), contagioso (it) Maori: hōrapa

Norwegian: Bokmål: smittsom Portuguese: infeccioso (pt), contagioso (pt) Romanian: infecțios (ro) Russian: зара́зный (ru) (zaráznyj) Spanish: infeccioso (es), contagioso (es) Tagalog: nakahahawa Welsh: heintus (cy)

spreading quickly between persons

Bulgarian: инфекциозен (bg) (infekciozen) Catalan: infecciós (ca) Dutch: aanstekelijk (nl) Finnish: tarttuva (fi) German: ansteckend (de) Icelandic: smitandi Maori: hōrapa, ngahau

Norwegian: Bokmål: smittsom Polish: zaraźliwy (pl) Russian: зарази́тельный (ru) (zarazítelʹnyj) Swedish: smittande (sv) Welsh: heintus (cy)

informal: memorable and invoking excitement or interest

Bulgarian: заразителен (bg) (zarazitelen) Czech: nakažlivý (cs) Dutch: aanstekelijk (nl)

Finnish: tarttuva (fi)

Anagrams

• countifies