[in.fuse] vt in.fused ; in.fus.ing [ME, t o pour in, fr. MF & L; MF infuser, fr. L infusus, pp. of infundere to pour in, fr. in- + fundere to pour--more at found] (1526) 1 a: to cause to be permeated with something (as a principle or quality) that alters usu. for the better "~ the team with confidence" b: introduce, insinuate "a new spirit was infused into American art --Amer. Guide Series: N.Y."
2: inspire, animate "the sense of purpose that infuses scientific research"
3: to steep in liquid (as water) without boiling so as to extract the soluble constituents or principles -- in.fus.er n syn infuse, suffuse, imbue, ingrain, inoculate, leaven mean to introduce one thing into another so as to affect it throughout. infuse implies a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance "new members infused enthusiasm into the club". suffuse implies a spreading through of something that gives an unusual color or quality "a room suffused with light". imbue implies the introduction of a quality that fills and permeates the whole being "imbue students with intellectual curiosity". ingrain, used only in the passive or past participle, suggests the deep implanting of a quality or trait "clung to ingrained habits". inoculate implies an imbuing or implanting with a germinal idea and often suggests surreptitiousness or subtlety "an electorate inoculated with dangerous ideas". leaven implies introducing something that enlivens, tempers, or markedly alters the total quality "a serious play leavened with comic moments".