1. affect (a person, organism, cell, etc.) with a disease-causing organism: "there is no evidence that the virus can infect humans"Similarpass infection totransmit infection tospread disease tocontaminatecause infection incause disease in
▪ 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"Similaraffecthave an effect oninfluencehave an impact onimpact ontouchtake hold ofexciteinspirestimulateanimate
Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin infect- ‘tainted’, from the verb inficere, from in- ‘into’ + facere ‘put, do’.
