/ ɪnˈfest; NAmE / verb
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] ( especially of insects or animals such as rats ) to exist in large numbers in a particular place, often causing damage or disease :
shark-infested waters
The kitchen was infested with ants.
► in·festa·tion / ˌɪnfeˈsteɪʃn; NAmE / noun [ C , U ]:
an infestation of lice
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense torment, harass ): from French infester or Latin infestare assail, from infestus hostile. The current sense dates from the mid 16th cent.