1 infective | Definition of infective

infective

adjective
in·​fec·​tive | \ in-ˈfek-tiv How to pronounce infective (audio) \

Definition of infective

a : producing or capable of producing or transmitting infection … infective oocysts are ingested with contaminated feed or water.— Douglas N. Stern Affected cats not yet showing signs of illness may shed the virus and be infective to other cats …Cat Fancy
b : caused by or resulting from an infection with one or more pathogenic agents infective bacterial endocarditis
c : affecting others : spreading easily to others Different teachers will demonstrate different skills and strengths. Some will have … an infective enthusiasm for their own subject.— Jonathan Glazzard et al.

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Other Words from infective

infectivity \ (ËŒ)in-​ËŒfek-​ˈti-​vÉ™-​tÄ“ How to pronounce infectivity (audio) \ noun

Examples of infective in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Kivu swarm, with its three new lineages of Ebola, may amount to about one or two quadrillion infective particles of the virus. Richard Preston, The New Yorker, "Is Ebola Evolving Into a More Deadly Virus?," 7 Aug. 2019 To spread from one dog to another, the larvae have to develop to a specific infective stage inside the mosquito. Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, "More dogs are getting sick as climate changes pushes diseases into new parts of the US," 15 June 2019 The eggs can then mature into a form of the parasite that is infective. Fox News, "GRAPHIC IMAGES: Boy, 4, has dozens of worms removed from intestines after complaints of pain, vomiting," 11 June 2019 Cidara Therapeutics is offering $120 million in stock, the anti-infective drug developer said Monday. Bradley J. Fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Cidara offers $120 million in stock to advance anti-infective drugs," 21 May 2018 The list of diseases thought to be caused by infective organisms is growing by the day. Sandy Bauers, Philly.com, "How high-tech genomics - and simple aspirin - could make your joint replacement better," 17 May 2018 That’s how former Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO Martin Shkreli was able to hike the price of a 60-year-old anti-infective drug, Daraprim, from $13.50 to $750 per pill. Washington Post, "FDA names drugmakers accused of blocking cheaper generics," 17 May 2018 For preterm and sick babies, human milk — fortified with anti-infective and anti-inflammatory nutrients not found in formula — is an elixir. Crocker Stephenson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Better Angels: After seeing homeless woman nurse baby, attorney donates her breastmilk to save lives," 11 Dec. 2017 Infected rodents don't last long in the presence of a cat and their consumption ultimately results in a bowel movement that contains thousands of microscopic oocysts, the parasite's infective stage, thus completing the cycle. Author: Rick Sinnott, Alaska Dispatch News, "Do feral cats have special needs, or is their plight all in our heads?," 21 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'infective.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of infective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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More Definitions for infective

infective

adjective
in·​fec·​tive | \ in-ˈfek-tiv How to pronounce infective (audio) \

Medical Definition of infective

a : producing or capable of producing or transmitting infection … infective oocysts are ingested with contaminated feed or water.— Douglas N. Stern … a strain of bacteria which forms spores that can remain infective for as long as fifty years.— Sue Hubbell Affected cats not yet showing signs of illness may shed the virus and be infective to other cats …Cat Fancy
b : caused by or resulting from an infection with one or more pathogenic agents infective bacterial endocarditis

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Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with infective

Britannica English: Translation of infective for Arabic Speakers