Nota: A tradução desta entrada está atualmente em revisão de qualidade, portanto parte do conteúdo é exibida temporariamente apenas em inglês.
Este verbete ainda não foi traduzido para o seu idioma, portanto o original é exibido abaixo.
infest
This term carries a strong negative connotation, implying an invasive presence that is unwanted, harmful, or disgusting. It is almost exclusively used to describe pests, parasites, or diseases that swarm a location, creating a sense of contamination or decay. While a place can be inhabited by many creatures, it is only infested when those creatures are perceived as a plague or a threat to the integrity of the environment.
In a figurative sense, the word can describe an overwhelming presence of negative ideas or corrupting influences. For example, a mind might be infested with doubt or a government infested with corruption, suggesting that the negative element has spread like a parasite and is actively destroying the host from within.
Meanings
Examples
Termites have infested the wooden beams of the old house.
Oh no, I think cockroaches are starting to infest the kitchen.
The ancient ruins were infested with giant spiders.
We need to call an exterminator because ants infest the pantry.
I can't believe these bedbugs infest every single hotel in this city.
The damp basement allows mold to infest the walls.
The swamp is where the parasitic flies infest the local wildlife.