- To contaminate with a pathogenic microorganism or agent.
- To communicate a pathogen or disease to.
- To invade and produce infection in.
- To contaminate or corrupt: envy that infected their thoughts; a society that was infected by racism.
- To affect in a contagious way: "His fear infected me, and . . . I followed as fast as I could" (W.H. Hudson).
[Middle English infecten, to afflict with disease, from Latin īnficere, īnfect-, to stain, infect (in-, in; see in-2 + facere, to do).]





