infect in WordNet English dictionary

1. contaminate with a disease or microorganism
   infect  taint 
   
2. communicate a disease to
   "Your children have infected you with this head cold"
   infect 
   
3. affect in a contagious way
   "His laughter infects everyone who is in the same room"
   infect 
   
4. corrupt with ideas or an ideology
   "society was infected by racism"
   infect