Infect

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -É›kt

Origin

From Middle French infect, from Latin infectus, perfect passive participle of inficiō ("dye, taint").

Full definition of infect

Verb

1. (transitive) To bring into contact with a substance that causes illness (a pathogen).
• 2013, Katie L. Burke, In the News, Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola.
2. (transitive) To make somebody enthusiastic about one's own passion.
   Her passion for dancing has infected me.

Antonyms

• disinfect

Derived terms

• infection
• infectible

Related terms

• infectious

Adjective

1. (obsolete) Infected.
• 1602, William Shakespeare, , I. iii. 187:And in the imitation of these twain,
  Who, as Ulysses says, opinion crowns
  With an imperial voice, many are infect.----