n the pathological state resulting from the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms
n (phonetics) the alteration of a speech sound under the influence of a neighboring sound
n (medicine) the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms and their multiplication which can lead to tissue damage and disease
n an incident in which an infectious disease is transmitted
n the communication of an attitude or emotional state among a number of people
n moral corruption or contamination
n (international law) illegality that taints or contaminates a ship or cargo rendering it liable to seizure