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