inflammation
/ɪnfləˈmeɪʃ(ə)n
/noun [mass noun]
A localized physical condition in which part of the body becomes reddened, swollen, hot, and often painful, especially as a reaction to injury or infection: steroid injections can have a dramatic effect in reducing inflammation and relieving pain chronic inflammation of the nasal cavities...
- Local corticosteroids are used to reduce inflammation in patients with chronic tendinopathies.
- Complications include diarrhoea, pneumonia, ear infection and inflammation of the brain.
- Hepatitis A is an infection that leads to inflammation of the liver and is caused by the hepatitis A virus.
Synonyms
swelling, puffiness;
redness, rawness, hotness, heat, burning, smarting, stinging;
soreness, pain, painfulness, tenderness, sensitivity;
infection, festering, eruption, suppuration, septicity
Origin
Late Middle English: from Latin inflammatio(n-), from the verb inflammare (see inflame).