I. ˈgaŋ-ˌgrēn, gaŋ-ˈ, ˈgan-ˌ, gan-ˈ noun
Etymology: Latin gangraena, from Greek gangraina; akin to Greek gran to gnaw
Date: 1543
1. : local death of soft tissues due to loss of blood supply
2. : pervasive decay or corruption : rot
moral gangrene
• gan·gre·nous ˈgaŋ-grə-nəs adjective
II. verb
( gan·grened ; gan·gren·ing )
Date: 1607
transitive verb
: to make gangrenous
intransitive verb
: to become gangrenous