I. ˈgaŋˌgrēn, ˈganˌ-, ˈgaiŋˌ-, ˈgaanˌ-, ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Latin gangraena, from Greek gangraina; akin to Greek gran to gnaw — more at cress
1. : local death of soft tissues (as from disease, injury, or infection) resulting from loss of blood supply — see dry gangrene , gas gangrene , moist gangrene , senile gangrene
2. : a pervasive, deeply rooted moral, social, or other nonphysical evil that endangers (as moral or social health)
the germs of a moral gangrene which will soon … bear its fruit — Bela Menczer
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
: to produce gangrene in : make gangrenous
intransitive verb
: to become affected with gangrene : become gangrenous
a bullet wound that gangrened