Skip to content

infiltrate

verb

  1. get in, sneakily
L298525 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈɪnfɪltɹeɪt/ / /ˈɪnfəltɹeɪt/ / /ɪnˈfɪltɹeɪt/

noun

Etymology: From Middle English infiltrate (adjective), from Medieval Latin infiltrātus, from infiltrō.

  1. Any undesirable substance or group of cells that has made its way into part of the body.

    One critical distinction to make is whether a focal corneal infiltrate is infected with bacteria or is a sterile immunologic response.

    Extensive lumpy infiltrates with a tendency to caseate and to form fistulas with purulent secretions appear, mainly in the anogenital region.

verb

Etymology: From Middle English infiltrate (adjective), from Medieval Latin infiltrātus, from infiltrō.

  1. To surreptitiously penetrate, enter or gain access to.

    The spy infiltrated the high-tech company and stole many secrets.

    Caithness was infiltrated with a palpable sense of being underimagined.

  2. To cause to penetrate in this way.

    The agency infiltrated several spies into the company.

  3. To pass through something by filtration.
  4. To cause (a liquid) to pass through something by filtration.
  5. To invade or penetrate a tissue or organ.

    High-grade tumors often infiltrate surrounding structures.

    In certain conditions, immune cells may infiltrate into the cerebrospinal fluid.

  6. To send (soldiers, spies, etc.) through gaps in the enemy line.
  7. To move from a vein, remaining in the body.