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Epidemic vs Infect - What's the difference?

epidemic | infect |

As adjectives the difference between epidemic and infect

is that epidemic is like or having to do with an epidemic; widespread while infect is (obsolete) infected.

As a noun epidemic

is a widespread disease that affects many individuals in a population.

As a verb infect is

to bring into contact with a substance that causes illness (a pathogen).

epidemic

Alternative forms

* epidemick (obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A widespread disease that affects many individuals in a population.
  • (epidemiology) An occurrence of a disease or disorder in a population at a frequency higher than that expected in a given time period.
  • Antonyms

    * endemic

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Like or having to do with an epidemic; widespread
  • Epidemic hysteria occurred upon the incumbent’s reelection.
  • * 2003 , James C. Howell, Preventing & Reducing Juvenile Delinquency: A Comprehensive Framework , SAGE Publications, ISBN 978-0-7619-2509-5, page 19:
  • This proportion increased about 5% from 1988 to 1992—hardly a change of epidemic proportions.

    Antonyms

    * endemic

    See also

    * epizootic * enzootic

    Anagrams

    *

    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

    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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