How Do You Spell INFECTIVE?

Pronunciation: [ɪnfˈɛktɪv] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "infective" is often mistaken for "infectious". However, the two words have slightly different meanings. Infective refers to the ability of an organism or agent to cause infection, whereas infectious refers to the spread or transmission of infection. The phonetic transcription of "infective" is /ɪnˈfɛktɪv/, which includes the short "i" sound followed by the "f" and "k" sounds. The final "e" is a silent letter that does not affect the pronunciation of the word.

INFECTIVE Meaning and Definition

  1. Infective is an adjective that refers to something having the capacity or ability to cause an infection. It is closely related to terms like infectious and contagious. An infective agent, such as a virus, bacterium, or fungus, is capable of invading and replicating within a host organism, leading to an infection.

    In the context of diseases, infective can describe an illness that is caused by a pathogen and can be transmitted from one individual to another. Infective diseases are typically caused by microorganisms or prions, and can range from common colds and influenza to more serious conditions like tuberculosis or HIV.

    In the field of medicine, an infective process or infection refers to the intrusion and multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms within a host organism or tissue, resulting in clinical signs and symptoms. The infective stage corresponds to the period when the pathogen is actively replicating and spreading throughout the host.

    In a broader sense, infective can also be used to describe something that has the potential to spread or have a detrimental influence. For example, infective ideas or behaviors may rapidly transmit among individuals or communities, leading to widespread acceptance or adoption.

    Overall, the term infective conveys the ability of a pathogen to cause an infection, whether in the context of diseases, medical conditions, or the transmission of ideas.

  2. Relating to an infection, infectious.

    A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

  3. Able or tending to taint with noxious matter or bad qualities. Note.-Contagion and contagious are used with respect to things which spread by contact or imitation; infection and infectious are generally restricted to a more hidden and diffusive power, but this distinction is not always observed.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for INFECTIVE

Etymology of INFECTIVE

The word "infective" is derived from the Latin word "infectivus", which itself comes from the verb "inficere". "Inficere" consists of the prefix "in-", meaning "into" or "on", and the verb "facere", meaning "do" or "make". So, the literal meaning of "inficere" is "to do into" or "to make into". The suffix "-ivus" in Latin is used to convert a verb into an adjective, hence "inficere" was transformed into "infectivus", meaning "capable of being infected" or "that which infects". From Latin, the word "infective" entered the English language, where it still carries the meaning of causing infection or being capable of being infected.

Similar spelling words for INFECTIVE

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