Dictionary.com

infiltrate

[ in-fil-treyt, in-fil-treyt ]
/ ɪnˈfɪl treɪt, ˈɪn fɪlˌtreɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR infiltrate

verb (used with object), in·fil·trat·ed, in·fil·trat·ing.

verb (used without object), in·fil·trat·ed, in·fil·trat·ing.

to pass into or through a substance, place, etc., by or as by filtering.
Pathology. to penetrate tissue spaces or cells.

noun

something that infiltrates.
Pathology. any substance penetrating tissues or cells and forming a morbid accumulation.

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Origin of infiltrate

First recorded in 1750–60; in-2 + filtrate

OTHER WORDS FROM infiltrate

in·fil·tra·tive [in-fil-trey-tiv, in-fil-truh-], /ˈɪn fɪlˌtreɪ tɪv, ɪnˈfɪl trə-/, adjectivein·fil·tra·tor [in-fil-trey-ter, in-fil-trey-], /ˈɪn fɪlˌtreɪ tər, ɪnˈfɪl treɪ-/, nounre·in·fil·trate, verb, re·in·fil·trat·ed, re·in·fil·trat·ing.un·in·fil·trat·ed, adjective

Words nearby infiltrate

infielder, infield hit, infield out, infighting, infill, infiltrate, infiltration, infiltration anesthesia, infiltration capacity, infiltration gallery, infiltrometer
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to infiltrate

penetrate, pervade, permeate, impregnate, foist, saturate, access, insinuate, percolate, crack, tinge, edge in, work into, worm into

Example sentences from the Web for infiltrate

British Dictionary definitions for infiltrate

infiltrate
/ (ˈɪnfɪlˌtreɪt) /

verb

to undergo or cause to undergo the process in which a fluid passes into the pores or interstices of a solid; permeate
military to pass undetected through (an enemy-held line or position)
to gain or cause to gain entrance or access surreptitiouslythey infiltrated the party structure

noun

something that infiltrates
pathol any substance that passes into and accumulates within cells, tissues, or organs
pathol a local anaesthetic solution injected into the tissues to cause local anaesthesia

Derived forms of infiltrate

infiltration, nouninfiltrative, adjectiveinfiltrator, noun

Word Origin for infiltrate

C18: from in- ² + filtrate
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for infiltrate

infiltrate
[ ĭn-fĭl′trāt′, ĭn′fĭl- ]

v.

To cause a liquid to permeate a substance by passing through its interstices or pores.
To permeate a porous substance with a liquid or gas.

n.

An abnormal substance that accumulates gradually in cells or body tissues.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.