Infect

Quick meaning: Infect is a verb meaning (transitive) To contaminate (an object or substance) with a pathogen.

Meaning

(transitive) To contaminate (an object or substance) with a pathogen.

More Meanings

1. (transitive) To make somebody enthusiastic about one's own passion, or to communicate a feeling to others, or a feeling communicating itself to others.
2. (transitive) To bring (the body or part of it) into contact with a substance that causes illness (a pathogen), so that the pathogen begins to act on the body; (of a pathogen) to come into contact with (a body or body part) and begin to act on it.
3. (obsolete) Infected.
4. (rare, grammar, of a tense or verb form) Representing an action not yet completed.

Example Sentences

Her passion for dancing has infected me.

Not everyone will be infected when an epidemic strikes.

Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola.

Guido, by way of diverting the embarrassment which seemed to infect them all, began to unfasten the packet of letters.

Word Forms

• infects
• infecting
• infected

Synonyms for infect

Depending on context, synonyms include leper, taint, inspire, revolutionize.

Antonyms for infect

Common opposites include disinfect.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include taint, inspire, revolutionize, infectious, infection, lancet.

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