/ ˈgæŋgriːn; NAmE / noun
[ U ] the decay that takes place in a part of the body when the blood supply to it has been stopped because of an illness or injury :
Gangrene set in and he had to have his leg amputated.
► gan·gren·ous / ˈgæŋgrɪnəs; NAmE / adjective
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: via French from Latin gangraena , from Greek gangraina .