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# infection

«infection» in Mova's school dictionary: **an illness caused by germs (bacteria, viruses or fungi)…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

noun (an infection, infections; infection, uncountable)

### meaning for a pupil

1) An infection is an illness caused by germs (bacteria, viruses or fungi) getting into your body. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/infection/#m1)

2) Infection is the spreading of germs from one person or thing to another. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/infection/#m2)

3) An infected cut or wound has germs in it, making it red, swollen, hot or full of pus. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/infection/#m3)

### sense in the lessons

In health and hygiene lessons, we prevent infection by washing hands, cleaning and covering cuts, covering coughs, and not sharing cups. Doctors treat some infections caused by bacteria with antibiotics, but antibiotics do not work on viruses like colds. Signs of an infected cut: redness spreading, swelling, heat, pus, or fever — tell an adult. Phrases: ear infection, chest infection, risk of infection, catch an infection, spread infection.

### examples

- Clean the cut to stop infection. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/infection/#x1)
- She had an ear infection and a high temperature. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/infection/#x2)
- Antibiotics can treat some infections. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/infection/#x3)
- Germs spread infection from hand to mouth. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/infection/#x4)
- The doctor said the wound was infected. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/infection/#x5)
- Washing hands lowers the risk of infection. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/infection/#x6)

### note

"An infection", with "an". Verb: infect; adjective: infected, infectious (can be passed on). Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses. Do not confuse infection with injection (a needle giving medicine).

### In the corpora

- ["Tummy bug" means a stomach infection with being sick or diarrhoea; it is everyday British English.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/euphemisms/5-drink-mind-and-body/13/)
- [Towels can spread germs and skin infections, so everyone uses their own.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/76-washing-your-body-and-hair/11/)
- [A hangnail is clipped with clean clippers, because pulling it tears the skin and can cause infection.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/77-hair-nails-and-ears/11/)
- [Earache can be an infection, so you tell an adult.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/77-hair-nails-and-ears/16/)
- [Biting nails and picking the skin around them can let germs in and cause painful infections.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/77-hair-nails-and-ears/22/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «infection» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/infection/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.