infest

[ in-fest ]
/ ɪnˈfɛst /

verb (used with object)

to live in or overrun to an unwanted degree or in a troublesome manner, especially as predatory animals or vermin do: Sharks infested the coastline.
to be numerous in, as anything undesirable or troublesome: the cares that infest the day.
Archaic. to harass.

Origin of infest

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin infestāre to assail, molest, derivative of infestus hostile

OTHER WORDS FROM infest

in·fest·er, noun re·in·fest, verb (used with object) un·in·fest·ed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH infest

infect infest invest

Example sentences from the Web for infested

British Dictionary definitions for infested

infest
/ (ɪnˈfɛst) /

verb (tr)

to inhabit or overrun in dangerously or unpleasantly large numbers
(of parasites such as lice) to invade and live on or in (a host)

Derived forms of infest

infestation, noun infester, noun

Word Origin for infest

C15: from Latin infestāre to molest, from infestus hostile

Medical definitions for infested

infest
[ ĭn-fĕst ]

v.

To live as a parasite in or on tissues or organs or on the skin and its appendages.
To inhabit or overrun in numbers large enough to be harmful, threatening, or obnoxious.

Other words from infest

in′fes•tation n.