infest
To inhabit a place in unpleasantly large numbersTo inhabit a place in unpleasantly large numbers; to plague, harass.
» Tom's apartment is infested with cockroaches.
In Toms Wohnung wimmelt es von Küchenschaben.
Meaning
2 senses(transitive)To inhabit a place in unpleasantly large numbers; to plague, harass.
Insects are infesting my basement!
befallen
occupy in large numbers or live on a host
To invade a host plant or animal.
invade in great numbers
Examples
38 sentencesTom's apartment is infested with cockroaches.
deIn Toms Wohnung wimmelt es von Küchenschaben.
It turns out that house is infested with garter snakes. They're everywhere.
We found out that the house is infested with garter snakes. They're everywhere.
It turns out that that house is infested with garter snakes. They're everywhere.
We discovered that house is infested with garter snakes. They're all over the place!
Translations
2 languagesBy meaning 1
Origin
From Middle English infesten, from Old French infester (“to infest”), from Latin īnfestō (From Middle English infesten, from Old French infester (“to infest”), from Latin īnfestō (“assail, molest”, verb), from īnfestus (“hostile”), of uncertain origin.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
infests, infesting, infested, infestedSynonyms
4 synonymsWord family
7 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle
Collocations
3 patterns- infested with garter
- is infested with
- house is infested