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, adjectiveWords nearby infest
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, nounWord 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.