phlegmon/abscess
phlegmonous abscess. Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia. abscess. a localized collection of pus in a cavity formed by the disintegration of tissue. Abscesses are usually caused by specific microorganisms that invade the tissues, often by way of small wounds or breaks in the skin. An abscess is a natural defense mechanism in which the body attempts to localize an infection and wall off the microorganisms so that they cannot spread throughout the body.