infest
pronunciation
How to pronounce infest in British English:
UK [ɪnˈfest]
How to pronounce infest in American English:
US [ɪnˈfɛst]
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- Verb:
- invade in great numbers
- occupy in large numbers or live on a host
- live on or in a host, as of parasites
Word Origin
- infest (v.)
- late 15c., "to attack, assail, hurt, distress, annoy," from Middle French infester, from Latin infestare "to attack, disturb, trouble," from infestus "hostile, dangerous," originally "inexorable, not able to be handled," from in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + -festus "(able to be) seized." Sense of "swarm over in large numbers" first recorded c. 1600. Related: Infested; infesting.
Example
- 1. No one wanted to accidentally infest the world with a deadly virus !
- 2. Several animals in sea water can infest wood .
- 3. Vermin infest their youth , and fortunes must be spent for curative powders .
- 4. Sharks do not infest water , they live in it - it 's their home .
- 5. W ability of the infestor , which is currently replacing the infest building ability .