English Explanatory Dictionary

infect

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. 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.
  2. To contaminate (an object or substance) with a pathogen.
  3. To make somebody enthusiastic about one's own passion, or to communicate a feeling to others, or a feeling communicating itself to others.
adj
  1. Infected.
adj
  1. Representing an action not yet completed.

Pronunciation

/ɪnˈfɛkt/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-infect.wav /ˈɪnfɛkt/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-infect2.wav

Word forms

infect infects infecting infected

Etymology

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

Synonyms

leper

Antonyms

disinfect

Related words

infectious

Derived words

autoinfect camfecting coinfect infectability infectable infectee infectible infection infective infectome infector noninfecting reinfect superinfect uninfecting
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