infect

/ɪnˈfɛkt/
verb
  1. To cause a person, animal, or plant to have a disease or illness.
    • If you touch a dirty wound, bacteria may infect it.
    • The flu infected half the students in the school last winter.
    • The virus can infect people through coughing and sneezing.
  2. To affect something or someone with a harmful or negative quality, such as an idea or feeling.
    • False information can infect public opinion quickly.
    • His negative attitude began to infect the whole team.
    • The corruption in the government infected many departments.
  3. To contaminate a computer or system with a virus or malware.
    • Clicking on that link might infect your computer with a virus.
    • Always scan email attachments so they don't infect your device.
    • The malware infected the company's entire network.
What does "infect" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean