infect

//ɪnˈfɛkt//
B2Frequency Level 9Neutral
Visual representation of infect

Verb

infectInfinitive
infectPresent tense
infectedPast tense
infectedPast participle
infectingPresent participle
infectsThird-person singular
1

to contaminate (a person, organism, wound, etc.) with disease-causing microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites

The wound became infected with bacteria.

2

to affect or contaminate (a computer, system, or file) with a virus or malware

A malicious email infected my computer with a virus.

3

to affect someone or something with a harmful or corrupting influence; to taint or pollute

His negative attitude began to infect the whole team.