B2verbhealthtechnology
US/ɪnˈfekt/
UK/ɪnˈfekt/
to give someone a disease, or to make a wound or computer full of something harmful
In context
One sick child can infect the whole class within a few days.
Wash the cut carefully so it doesn't get infected.
The email contained a link that infected my laptop with a virus.
Words that go with infect
verb + preposition
- infected withThousands of people were infected with the virus last winter.
adjective + noun
- infected woundAn infected wound may become red, hot and painful.
verb + noun
- infect other peopleStay home if you are sick so you don't infect other people.
- infect a computerHackers use fake attachments to infect a computer.
adverb + adjective
- easily infectedYoung children are easily infected in crowded places.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
He was infected by flu from his colleague.Correct: He caught the flu from his colleague.