好词典

contagion

UK //kənˈteɪdʒən//US //kənˈteɪdʒən//

词源

源自拉丁语 'contagio',意为接触或污染,由 'con-'(一起)和 'tangere'(触摸)组成。14世纪通过古法语进入英语。

noun

❶ 指疾病通过直接或间接接触传播的现象,通常用于描述传染病在人群中的扩散过程。

“The rapid contagion of the virus alarmed health officials.”

(病毒的快速传播让卫生官员感到担忧。)

“Social distancing helps reduce the risk of contagion.”

(保持社交距离有助于降低传染风险。)

❶ 比喻某种情绪、想法或行为在人群中迅速传播的现象,常带有负面含义。

“Panic was a contagion that swept through the financial markets.”

(恐慌是一种席卷金融市场的传染现象。)

“Laughter can be a positive contagion in a tense room.”

(在紧张的房间裡,笑声可以是一种积极的传染。)

同义词:infection, transmission, spread, epidemic, outbreak

常见短语

fear contagion — 指恐惧情绪在群体中快速蔓延的现象,常见于危机或突发事件中。

“During the crisis, fear contagion led to widespread panic buying.”

(危机期间,恐惧传染导致了广泛的恐慌性购买。)

financial contagion — 描述金融危机或经济问题从一个国家或市场扩散到其他地区的现象。

“The Asian financial crisis showed how quickly financial contagion can spread globally.”

(亚洲金融危机展示了金融传染如何快速在全球蔓延。)