septic
adj.adj. infected with harmful bacteria. It describes a wound or a part of the body that has become dangerously dirty and sick.
adj. infected with microorganisms, especially bacteria; relating to or causing sepsis. Often describes a physiological state where pathogens or their toxins have entered the blood or tissues.
The doctor cleaned the wound to prevent it from becoming septic.
If a deep cut is not treated with antiseptic, it can become septic and lead to a serious infection.
The patient was rushed to the emergency room after the surgical site became septic, requiring immediate intravenous antibiotics to prevent the onset of systemic organ failure.
From Ancient Greek σηπτικός (sēptikós, “characterized by putridity”), from σηπτός (sēptós), from σήπω (sḗpō).
From Latin septem (“seven”) + -ic.
Short form of Cockney rhyming slang septic tank (“Yank”).
Typically used as a predicative adjective after 'become' or 'go', or as an attributive adjective before nouns like 'wound' or 'shock'.
the wound is scepticthe wound is septicLearners often confuse 'septic' (infected) with 'sceptic' (a person who doubts), which have similar pronunciations but unrelated meanings.