/ ɪnˈfekt; NAmE / verb [ vn ] infect sb/sth (with sth)
1.
to make a disease or an illness spread to a person, an animal or a plant :
It is not possible to infect another person through kissing.
people infected with HIV
2.
[ usually passive ] to make a substance contain harmful bacteria that can spread disease
SYN contaminate :
eggs infected with salmonella
3.
to make a computer virus spread to another computer or program
4.
to make sb share a particular feeling :
She infected the children with her enthusiasm for music.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Latin infect- tainted, from the verb inficere , from in- into + facere put, do.