gangrene Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun necrotic tissue; a mortified or gangrenous part or mass
    sphacelus; slough.
  2. noun the localized death of living cells (as from infection or the interruption of blood supply)
    necrosis; mortification; sphacelus.
  3. verb undergo necrosis
    necrose; sphacelate; mortify.
    • the tissue around the wound necrosed

WordNet

Gan"grene noun
Etymology
F. gangrène, L. gangraena, fr. Gr. , fr. to gnaw, eat; cf. Skr. gras, gar, to devour, and E. voracious, also canker, n., in sense 3.
Definitions
  1. (Med.) A term formerly restricted to mortification of the soft tissues which has not advanced so far as to produce complete loss of vitality; but now applied to mortification of the soft parts in any stage.
Gan"grene transitive verb & intransitive verb
Etymology
Cf. F. gangréner.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Gangrened ; present participle & verbal noun Gangrening
Definitions
  1. To produce gangrene in; to be affected with gangrene.

Webster 1913