infect

The definition of infect is to contaminate someone or something with a disease or with some other negative element.

(verb)

An example of infect is when you give someone a cold.
An example of infect is when you have a very bad attitude which spreads to others who you know.

See infect in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

to contaminate with a disease-producing organism or matter
to cause to become diseased by bringing into contact with such an organism or matter
to invade (an individual, organ, tissue, etc.): said of a pathogenic organism
to affect or imbue with one's feelings, beliefs, etc.

Origin: ME infecten < MFr infecter < L infectus, pp. of inficere, to put or dip into, tinge, stain < in-, in + facere, to do

Related Forms:

See infect in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb in·fect·ed, in·fect·ing, in·fects

To contaminate with a pathogenic microorganism or agent.
To communicate a pathogen or disease to.
To invade and produce infection in.
To contaminate or corrupt: envy that infected their thoughts; a society that was infected by racism.
To affect in a contagious way: “His fear infected me, and . . . I followed as fast as I could” (W.H. Hudson).

Origin:

Origin: Middle English infecten, to afflict with disease

Origin: , from Latin īnficere, īnfect-, to stain, infect (in-, in; see in-² + facere, to do; see dhē- in Indo-European roots)