View synonyms for infect

infect

[ in-fekt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

to affect or contaminate (a person, organ, wound, etc.) with disease-producing germs.
to affect with disease.
to taint or contaminate with something that affects quality, character, or condition unfavorably:
to infect the air with poison gas.
to corrupt or affect morally:
The news of the gold strike infected him with greed.
to imbue with some pernicious belief, opinion, etc.
Synonyms: corrupt, damage
to affect with a computer virus.
Synonyms: arouse, stir, touch
to affect so as to influence feeling or action:
His courage infected the others.
Law. to taint with illegality, or expose to penalty, forfeiture, etc.

verb (used without object)

to become infected.

adjective

Archaic. infected.

infect

/ ɪnˈfɛkt /

verb

to cause infection in; contaminate (an organism, wound, etc) with pathogenic microorganisms
also intr to affect or become affected with a communicable disease
to taint, pollute, or contaminate
to affect, esp adversely, as if by contagion
computing to affect with a computer virus
international law to taint with crime or illegality; expose to penalty or subject to forfeiture

adjective

archaic.
contaminated or polluted with or as if with a disease; infected

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Derived Forms

inˈfector, noun

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Other Words From

in·fectant adjective
in·fected·ness noun
in·fector in·fecter noun
nonin·fected adjective
nonin·fecting adjective
prein·fect verb (used with object)
rein·fect verb (used with object)
unin·fected adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of infect¹

1350–1400; Middle English infecten < Latin infectus (past participle of inficere to immerse in dye, discolor, taint, poison), equivalent to in- in- ² + -fec-, combining form of facere to do ¹, make ( fact ) + -tus past participle suffix

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Word History and Origins

Origin of infect¹

C14: from Latin inficere to dip into, stain, from facere to make

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