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   infect

   /ɪnˈfɛkt/

   verb

   • 1. affect (a person, organism, etc.) with a disease-causing organism: "pregnant women who may have been infected with the virus" Similar pass infection totransmit infection tospread disease tocontaminatecause infection incause disease in
   • ▪ contaminate (air, water, etc.) with harmful organisms: "the water was infected by cholera" Similar contaminatepollutemake impuretaintfouldirtyblightspoilmarimpairdamageruinpoisonradioactivaterare:vitiateOpposite purifydisinfect
   • ▪ affect with a virus: "viruses have infected computer networks"
   • ▪ (of a negative feeling or idea) take hold of or be communicated to (someone): "the panic in his voice infected her" Similar affecthave an effect oninfluencehave an impact onimpact ontouchtake hold ofexciteinspirestimulateanimate

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Latin infect- ‘tainted’, from the verb inficere, from in- ‘into’ + facere ‘put, do’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. infector noun

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • I

     1

   • N

     1

   • F

     4

   • E

     1

   • C

     3

   • T

     1

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