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infect

Pronunciation: /ɪnˈfɛkt/

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Definition of infect

verb

[with object]
  • affect (a person, organism, etc.) with a disease-causing organism:the chance that a child may have been infected with HIV
  • contaminate (air, water, etc.) with harmful organisms: (as adjective infected)the bacteria can get into a crop from an infected water supply
  • Computing affect with a virus: viruses have infected computer networks
  • (of a negative feeling or idea) take hold of or be communicated to (someone):the panic in his voice infected her

Derivatives

infector

noun

Origin:

late Middle English: from Latin infect- 'tainted', from the verb inficere, from in- 'into' + facere 'put, do'

infect in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of infect in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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