SPHACELUS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sphacelus mean? 

• SPHACELUS (noun)
  The noun SPHACELUS has 2 senses:

1. necrotic tissue; a mortified or gangrenous part or mass

2. the localized death of living cells (as from infection or the interruption of blood supply)

  Familiarity information: SPHACELUS used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SPHACELUS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Necrotic tissue; a mortified or gangrenous part or mass

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

gangrene; slough; sphacelus

Hypernyms ("sphacelus" is a kind of...):

pathology (any deviation from a healthy or normal condition)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sphacelus"):

cold gangrene; dry gangrene; mumification necrosis; mummification ((pathology) gangrene that develops in the presence of arterial obstruction and is characterized by dryness of the dead tissue and a dark brown color)

clostridial myonecrosis; emphysematous gangrene; emphysematous phlegmon; gangrenous emphysema; gas gangrene; gas phlegmon; progressive emphysematous necrosis ((pathology) a deadly form of gangrene usually caused by clostridium bacteria that produce toxins that cause tissue death; can be used as a bioweapon)

Derivation:

sphacelate (undergo necrosis)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The localized death of living cells (as from infection or the interruption of blood supply)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Synonyms:

gangrene; mortification; necrosis; sphacelus

Hypernyms ("sphacelus" is a kind of...):

death (the permanent end of all life functions in an organism or part of an organism)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sphacelus"):

myonecrosis (localized death of muscle cell fibers)

Derivation:

sphacelate (undergo necrosis)