noun

• A disease spread by contact.
• The spread or transmission of such a disease.
• (figuratively, by extension) The spread of anything likened to a contagious disease.
• The passing on of manners or behaviour through a closed community or household.
• (finance) The spread of (initially small) shocks, which initially affect only a few financial institutions or a particular region of an economy, to other financial sectors and other countries whose economies were previously healthy.
• (finance) A recession or crisis developed in such manner.