abscess

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Several months later the surgeon removed the neck stabilization plate and an abscess, a pocket of infection that required the use of IV amphotericin.

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Definitions (11)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. noun A localized collection of pus in part of the body, formed by tissue disintegration and surrounded by an inflamed area.
  2. intransitive verb To form an abscess.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (7)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (1)

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Examples

  • The wound would abscess, the rot would set in, and he would be buried within the week. —  Sharpe's Sword
  • Several months later the surgeon removed the neck stabilization plate and an abscess, a pocket of infection that required the use of IV amphotericin. —  'Complications': An Exchange
  • For this particular bacillus to form an abscess, which is a pocket of infection, in the deep substance of the tongue, is that aspect that's exceptionally rare, and there aren't that many reported cases of such an abscess. —  CNN Transcript - Special Event: Press Conference on Former President Gerald Ford's Health - August 5, 2000
  • DRISS BENZEKRI, POLITICAL ACTIVIST (through translator): There are stages in the healing process, he says, and I believe the main stage is to talk about it, and to burst the abscess, which is what we've done. —  CNN Transcript Nov 24, 2005
  • When the abscess is allowed to burst, or is opened and becomes infected with pyogenic bacteria, there is not only the risk of aggravation of the disease and persistent suppuration, but there is a greater liability to general tuberculosis The sinuses may be so tortuous that a probe cannot be passed to the primary focus of disease, and their course and disposition can only be demonstrated by injecting the sinuses with an emulsion of bismuth and taking X-ray photographs Tuberculous infection of the lymph glands of the limb is exceptional, but may follow upon infection of the skin around the orifice of a sinus A slight rise of temperature in the evening may be induced in quiescent joint lesions by injury or by movement of the joint under anæsthesia, or by the fatigue of a railway journey. —  Manual of Surgery Volume First: General Surgery. Sixth Edition.
 

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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Latin abscessus, separation, abscess, from past participle of abscēdere, to go away, slough, form an abscess (possibly translation of Greek apostēma, distance, abscess, from aphistasthai, to withdraw, slough, form an abscess) : ab-, away; see ab-1 + cēdere, to go; see ked- in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from Latin abscessus, a going away, in medical language an abscess, from abscedere, go away, from abs, lengthened form of ab, away, + cedere, go: see cede.
 

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/ˈæbsɛs/
by American Heritage
by peggy tharpe

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