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Disinfect vs Infect - What's the difference?

disinfect | infect | Antonyms |

Infect is a antonym of disinfect.



As verbs the difference between disinfect and infect

is that disinfect is to sterilize by the use of cleaning agent while infect is to bring into contact with a substance that causes illness (a pathogen).

As an adjective infect is

infected.

disinfect

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To sterilize by the use of cleaning agent.

    • infect

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To bring into contact with a substance that causes illness (a pathogen).
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= Katie L. Burke
    • , title= In the News , volume=101, issue=3, page=193, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola.}}
  • To make somebody enthusiastic about one's own passion.

    • Antonyms

    * disinfect

    Derived terms

    * infection * infectible

    Related terms

    * infectious

    Adjective

    (-)
  • (obsolete) Infected.
  • * 1602 , , I. iii. 187:
    • And in the imitation of these twain, / Who, as Ulysses says, opinion crowns / With an imperial voice, many are infect .
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