infusion

American  

[in-fyoo-zhuhn] / ɪnˈfyu ʒən /

noun

1. the act or process of infusing.

2. something that is infused.

3. a liquid extract, as tea, prepared by steeping or soaking.

4. Pharmacology.

   1. the steeping or soaking of a crude drug in water.

   2. the liquid so prepared.

5. Medicine/Medical.

   1. the introduction of a saline or other solution into a vein.

   2. the solution used.

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infusion British  

/ ɪnˈfjuːʒən, ɪnˈfjuːsɪv /

noun

1. the act of infusing

2. something infused

3. an extract obtained by soaking

4. med introduction of a liquid, such as a saline solution, into a vein or the subcutaneous tissues of the body

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Other Word Forms

• infusive
  adjective
• reinfusion
  noun

Etymology

Origin of infusion

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin infūsiōn- (stem of infūsiō ). See infuse, -ion

Explanation

The most common example of an infusion you are likely to encounter in your daily life is your morning cup of coffee. An infusion is the creation of a new substance by steeping another substance in a liquid, usually water. Infusion is often misused with transfusion, which has a slightly different meaning. A transfusion, as in a blood transfusion, is the simple addition of one substance to another, without the creation of something new. But a drip feed of medicine, for example, is technically an infusion as it alters the state of the blood. See, you’re halfway to becoming a doctor (or at least a linguist) simply by reading this site.

Example Sentences

Infusion pumps were also the devices most likely to have vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers, the report found — 73 percent had a vulnerability.

From The Verge • Jan. 19, 2022

Supporting comments also came from officials of the Infusion Access Foundation and Eli Lilly, which has developed a similar anti-amyloid drug.

From New York Times • Dec. 31, 2021

"It's not about vaccination. It's about a treatment for covid that can keep patients out of the hospital," said Connie Sullivan, president and chief executive of the trade group National Home Infusion Association.

From Salon • Aug. 26, 2021

States “didn’t see this coming … and have limited bandwidth” to deal with this on top of allocating vaccines, said Connie Sullivan, president of the National Home Infusion Association.

From Washington Times • Dec. 18, 2020

Infusion of goldenseal eased the sore throat that sometimes afflicted fishermen after long days in the boats.

From "Son" by Lois Lowry