Definition

Relating to or affected by a serious condition where body tissue dies due to a lack of blood flow or infection.

Example

The doctor was concerned about the gangrenous wound on the patient's leg.

Conversation

Did you hear about that old building downtown?

Yeah, I heard it has some gangrenous spots that need fixing.

That's really concerning; I hope they can restore it properly.

Me too, or it might become a bigger problem for the area.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Gangrenous → It is formed from "gangrēna" (from Greek, meaning a sore or ulcer) and the suffix "-ous" (meaning full of or characterized by). The word "gangrenous" describes a condition characterized by the presence of gangrene, which is tissue death due to lack of blood supply.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'sore' or 'ulcer' ('gangrēna') that is 'full of' ('-ous') decay or dead tissue, which helps you remember that 'gangrenous' refers to a state of tissue death.

Visually Confused Words