FOMES

‖Fo″mes (fō″mēz), n.; pl. Fomites (fŏm″ĭ‐tēz). [[L. fomes, -itis, touch-wood, tinder.]] (Med.) Any substance supposed to be capable of absorbing, retaining, and transporting contagious or infectious germs; as, woolen clothes are said to be active fomites.