Nearby Words
verb (used with object)
1.
to affect or contaminate (a person, organ, wound, etc.) with disease-producing germs.
2.
to affect with disease.
3.
to taint or contaminate with something that affects quality, character, or condition unfavorably: to infect the air with poison gas.
4.
to corrupt or affect morally: The news of the gold strike infected him with greed.
5.
EXPANDto imbue with some pernicious belief, opinion, etc.
6.
to affect with a computer virus.
7.
to affect so as to influence feeling or action: His courage infected the others.
8.
COLLAPSELaw. to taint with illegality, or expose to penalty, forfeiture, etc.
verb (used without object)
9.
to become infected.
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Infecting
is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
adjective
10.
Archaic. infected.
Origin:
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 do1, make (see fact) + -tus past participle suffix
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 do1, make (see fact) + -tus past participle suffix
Related forms
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
EXPANDpre·in·fect, verb (used with object)
re·in·fect, verb (used with object)
un·in·fect·ed, adjective
COLLAPSESynonyms
5. damage, corrupt. 6. touch, stir, arouse.
5. damage, corrupt. 6. touch, stir, arouse.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Link To infecting
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
infect
late 14c., from L. infectus, pp. of inficere "to spoil, stain," lit. "to put in," from in- "in" + facere "perform" (see factitious). Infection is 1548 in sense of "communication of disease by agency of air or water" (distinguished from contagion, which is body-to-body
EXPANDcommunication). Infectious "catching, having the quality of spreading from person to person" is 1542 of diseases, 1611 of emotions, actions, etc.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
infect in·fect (ĭn-fěkt')
v. in·fect·ed, in·fect·ing, in·fects
To contaminate with a pathogenic microorganism or agent.
To communicate a pathogen or disease to another organism.
To invade and produce infection in an organ or body part.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
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