infectious

Adjective
Synonyms: infective

WordNet 3.0

Adjective (3)

  1. caused by infection or capable of causing infection“viruses and other infective agents”“a carrier remains infective without himself showing signs of the disease”Synonyms: infective
  2. easily spread“fear is exceedingly infectious; children catch it from their elders — Bertrand Russell”
  3. of or relating to infection“infectious hospital”“infectious disease”
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Infectious \In*fec"tious\, a. [Cf. F. infectieux.] [1913 Webster]

1.Having qualities that may infect; communicable or caused by infection; pestilential; epidemic; as, an infectious fever; infectious clothing; infectious water; infectious vices. [1913 Webster]

Where the infectious pestilence.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

2.Corrupting, or tending to corrupt or contaminate; vitiating; demoralizing. [1913 Webster]

It [the court] is necessary for the polishing of manners . . . but it is infectious even to the best morals to live always in it.— Dryden.[1913 Webster]

3.(Law) Contaminating with illegality; exposing to seizure and forfeiture. [1913 Webster]

Contraband articles are said to be of an infectious nature.— Kent.[1913 Webster]

4.Capable of being easily diffused or spread; sympathetic; readily communicated; as, infectious mirth. [1913 Webster]

The laughter was so genuine as to be infectious.— W. Black.

Syn: See Contagious. [1913 Webster]

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