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infection definition

in·fec·tion (in fek′s̸hən)

noun

  1. an infecting; specif.,
    1. the act of causing to become diseased
    2. the act of affecting with one's feelings or beliefs
  2. the fact or state of being infected, esp. by the presence in the body of bacteria, protozoans, viruses, or other parasites
  3. something that results from infecting or being infected; specif.,
    1. a disease resulting from infection (sense )
    2. a feeling, belief, influence, etc. transmitted from one person to another
  4. anything that infects

Etymology: ME infeccioun < OFr infection < LL infectio

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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