1. The pathological state resulting from the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms
   "The wound developed an infection despite proper cleaning"
    
2. (medicine) the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms and their multiplication which can lead to tissue damage and disease
   "The infection spread rapidly through the hospital ward"
    
3. The spread of a disease from one person or organism to another, typically through direct or indirect contact
   "Researchers studied the infection patterns of the new virus";
   - contagion, transmission
    
4. The communication of an attitude or emotional state among a number of people
   "the infection of his enthusiasm for poetry";
   - contagion
    
5. Moral corruption or contamination
   "ambitious men are led astray by an infection that is almost unavoidable"
    
6. (phonetics) the alteration of a speech sound under the influence of a neighbouring sound
   "The infection of the final 's' in 'dogs' to a 'z' sound is due to the preceding voiced consonant"
    
7. (international law) illegality that taints or contaminates a ship or cargo rendering it liable to seizure
   "The infection of the cargo with contraband made the entire ship subject to seizure"

Derived forms: infections

Type of: communication, corruption, corruptness, health problem, ill health, illegality, incident, linguistic process, pathologic process, pathological process, unhealthiness

Encyclopedia: Infection, Genetics and Evolution