transcription, транскрипция: [ ɪnfekt ]
( infects, infecting, infected)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
To infect people, animals, or plants means to cause them to have a disease or illness.
A single mosquito can infect a large number of people.
...people infected with HIV.
VERB : V n , V-ed , also V n with n
• in‧fec‧tion
...plants that are resistant to infection.
N-UNCOUNT
2.
To infect a substance or area means to cause it to contain harmful germs or bacteria.
The birds infect the milk.
...a virus which is spread mainly by infected blood.
= contaminate
VERB : V n , V-ed
3.
When people, places, or things are infected by a feeling or influence, it spreads to them.
For an instant I was infected by her fear...
He thought they might infect others with their bourgeois ideas...
His urge for revenge would never infect her.
VERB : be V-ed by n , V n with n , V n
4.
If a virus infects a computer, it affects the computer by damaging or destroying programs. ( COMPUTING )
This virus infected thousands of computers within days.
VERB : V n