Main Entry: ¹gan·grene

Pronunciation: \ˈgaŋ-ˌgrēn, gaŋ-ˈ, ˈgan-ˌ, gan-ˈ\

Function: noun

Etymology: Latin gangraena, from Greek gangraina; akin to Greek gran to gnaw

Date: 1543

1 : local death of soft tissues due to loss of blood supply
2 : pervasive decay or corruption : rot <moral gangrene>

— gan·gre·nous \ˈgaŋ-grə-nəs\ adjective