infuse

transitive verb (infused; infusing) Etymology: Middle English, to pour in, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French infuser, from Latin infusus, past participle of infundere to pour in, from in- + fundere to pour — more at found Date: 1526 1. a. to cause to be permeated with something (as a principle or quality) that alters usually for the better <

infuse the team with confidence

> b. introduce, insinuate <

a new spirit was infused into American art — American Guide Series: New York

> 2. inspire, animate <

the sense of purpose that infuses scientific research

> 3. to steep in liquid (as water) without boiling so as to extract the soluble constituents or principles 4. to administer or inject by infusion <

stem cells were infuseed into the patient

> • infuser noun Synonyms: infuse, suffuse, imbue, ingrain, inoculate, leaven mean to introduce one thing into another so as to affect it throughout. infuse implies a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance <

new members infused enthusiasm into the club

>. suffuse implies a spreading through of something that gives an unusual color or quality <

a room suffused with light

>. imbue implies the introduction of a quality that fills and permeates the whole being <

imbue students with intellectual curiosity

>. ingrain, used only in the passive or past participle, suggests the deep implanting of a quality or trait <

clung to ingrained habits

>. inoculate implies an imbuing or implanting with a germinal idea and often suggests stealth or subtlety <

an electorate inoculated with dangerous ideas

>. leaven implies introducing something that enlivens, tempers, or markedly alters the total quality <

a serious play leavened with comic moments

>.