infest

/in'fest/

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Word: Infest

Part of Speech: Verb

Definition: To infest means to live in or on a place or host in large numbers. Usually, it refers to pests, parasites, or unwanted organisms that invade and take over an area.

Usage Instructions:

• "Infest" is often used with words like “pests,” “bugs,” “parasites,” or “weeds.”
• It is typically used in a negative context, as it implies that something unwanted is taking over.

Examples:

1. Basic Example: "The roaches infested our kitchen." (This means that many cockroaches invaded the kitchen, making it a problem.)
2. Plant Example: "The kudzu plant infests much of the South." (This means that the kudzu plant grows in large amounts in the southern region, spreading quickly.)

Advanced Usage:

• You can use "infest" in scientific or environmental contexts, such as discussing invasive species in ecosystems or pests in agriculture.
  • Example: "The invasive species have infested the lake, disrupting the local ecosystem."

Word Variants:

• Infestation (noun): The act of infesting or the state of being infested.
  • Example: "We had a serious infestation of ants in our house."
• Infester (noun): A creature or organism that infests.
  • Example: "The infester caused significant damage to the crops."

Different Meaning:

While "infest" generally refers to unwanted organisms, in a less common context, it can also describe something that is filled with something undesirable. - Example: "The report was infested with errors." (This means that the report had many mistakes.)

Synonyms:

• Invade
• Overrun
• Swarm
• Plague

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that include "infest," but you can use it in phrases like: - "Infested with trouble" (meaning overwhelmed with problems) - "Infest the area" (meaning to take over a specific location)

Summary:

"Infest" is a verb used to describe the situation when large numbers of pests or unwanted organisms invade a space.

Academic

Verb

1. live on or in a host, as of parasites
2. occupy in large numbers or live on a host
   • the Kudzu plant infests much of the South and is spreading to the North
3. invade in great numbers
   • the roaches infested our kitchen

Synonyms

• invade
• overrun