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contagious disease

n.
  1. communicable disease
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
contagious disease in Culture

contagious disease

An infectious disease that is spread through contact with infected individuals; also called a communicable disease. Contact with the bodily secretions of such individuals, or with objects that they have contaminated, can also spread this kind of disease.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.