infectious

Everyday

1. An infectious disease can be passed from one person or animal to another, through germs in the air, water, food or touch. tree →
2. An infectious person has an illness that others can catch. tree →
3. Infectious can describe a feeling or laugh that spreads quickly to other people. tree →

In the lessons

In health and science lessons, colds, flu, chickenpox and stomach bugs are infectious; handwashing, covering coughs and staying home when ill stop them spreading. Not all diseases are infectious: diabetes and allergies are not. In stories and everyday life, an infectious laugh or smile makes others laugh too. Phrases: infectious disease, highly infectious, an infectious laugh.

Examples

• Chickenpox is very infectious, so Lily stayed home. tree →
• Wash your hands to stop infectious diseases spreading. tree →
• He is still infectious, so he can't come to the party. tree →
• Her laugh was so infectious that the whole class giggled. tree →
• Allergies are not infectious; you can't catch them. tree →
• The vet checked the dog for infectious illnesses. tree →
• The little boy laughed, and Uncle Remus supplemented this indorsement of his descriptive powers with a most infectious chuckle. tree →

Note

Noun: infection. «Infectious» and «contagious» are close; contagious often means spread by touch. A cut can be «infected» (germs got into it); that is not the same as «infectious».