infect
To bring (the body or part of it) into contact with a substance that causes illness (a pathogen), so that the pathogen begins to act on the body; (of a pathogen) to come into contact with (a body or body part) and begin to act on it.
Example
“Not everyone will be infected when an epidemic strikes.”
Other meanings
To contaminate (an object or substance) with a pathogen.
To make somebody enthusiastic about one's own passion, or to communicate a feeling to others, or a feeling communicating itself to others.
“Her passion for dancing has infected me.”
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “infect” on Wiktionary, by its contributors, published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.