Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Gangrene \Gan"grene\, n. [F. gangr[`e]ne, L. gangraena, fr. Gr.
   ?, fr. ? to gnaw, eat; cf. Skr. gras, gar, to devour, and E.
   voracious, also canker, n., in sense 3.] (Med.)
   A term formerly restricted to mortification of the soft
   tissues which has not advanced so far as to produce complete
   loss of vitality; but now applied to mortification of the
   soft parts in any stage.

Gangrene \Gan"grene\, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. {Gangrened}; p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Gangrening}.] [Cf. F. gangr['e]ner.]
   To produce gangrene in; to be affected with gangrene.

Source : WordNet®

gangrene
     n 1: necrotic tissue; a mortified or gangrenous part or mass
          [syn: {sphacelus}, {slough}]
     2: the localized death of living cells (as from infection or
        the interruption of blood supply) [syn: {necrosis}, {mortification},
         {sphacelus}]
     v : undergo necrosis; "the tissue around the wound necrosed"
         [syn: {necrose}, {mortify}, {sphacelate}]