infect
[verb]
Synonyms: contaminate, affect, blight, corrupt, defile, poison, pollute, taint

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

in‧fect /ɪnˈfekt/ verb [transitive]
[Word Family: noun: infection, disinfectant; adjective: infectious, infected; verb: infect ≠ disinfect; adverb: infectiously]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: past participle of inficere 'to dip in, stain']

1. to give someone a disease:
People with the virus may feel perfectly well, but they can still infect others.
infect with
the number of people infected with HIV

2. [usually passive] to make something contain something harmful that gives people a disease
infect with
Eggs known to be infected with salmonella were allowed to go on sale.

3. if a feeling or interest that you have infects other people, it makes them begin to feel the same way or have the same interest:
Lucy’s enthusiasm soon infected the rest of the class.

4. if a virus infects your computer or disk, it changes or destroys the information in or on it

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲