Verb: infect in'fekt
- Contaminate with a disease or microorganism
"The contaminated water infected many villagers with cholera";
- taint
- Communicate a disease to
"Your children have infected you with this head cold"
- Affect in a contagious way
"His laughter infects everyone who is in the same room"
- Corrupt with ideas or an ideology
"society was infected by racism"
Derived forms: infected, infects, infecting
Type of: affect, contaminate, corrupt, debase, debauch, demoralise [Brit], demoralize, deprave, foul, give, impress, misdirect, move, pervert, pollute, profane, strike, subvert, vitiate
Antonym: disinfect
Encyclopedia: Infect