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transmission mechanism

transmission mechanism

5.5
A way a disease spreads from animals or people to other people
  • noun
  • /trænzˈmɪʃən ˈmɛkənɪzəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : mecanismo de transmisión
  • Understanding the transmission mechanism of the disease helped doctors control the outbreak.

Examples

  • The transmission mechanism is vital.

  • What is the transmission mechanism for this disease?

  • Droplet spread is a common transmission mechanism for many respiratory viruses.

  • Insects can serve as a transmission mechanism for a variety of infectious agents.

  • The transmission mechanism of the virus involves several steps to spread from animals to humans.

  • Researchers studied the transmission mechanism to understand how the disease spreads in the population.

  • Public health officials explained the transmission mechanism to inform the community about the risks of infection.

Antonyms

sterilization
  • Specialized
3 4.5

To make objects like tools completely free of germs using heat or chemicals

How Likely

airborne transmission
  • Specialized
1 4.9
direct transmission
  • Specialized
3.7
transmission mechanism
  • Specialized
5.5
fomite
  • Specialized
9.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

transmission + mechanism

The noun phrase is transparently compositional: 'transmission' (the passing of an infection) combined with 'mechanism' (a system or process) yields an obvious meaning of the process by which something is transmitted. This combination follows regular noun-noun composition and has close counterparts in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

Transmission mechanism gives a simple picture: transmission means 'sending' and mechanism is a tool or 'way' that moves something, like a small machine or conveyor carrying an object. That's why the phrase means the way a germ or virus 'spreads' from a source to a person.