infusion

noun

in·​fu·​sion in-ˈfyü-zhən 

1

: the act or process of infusing

an infusion of new ideas

2

: a product obtained by infusing

herbal infusions

3

: the continuous slow introduction of a solution especially into a vein

Examples of infusion in a Sentence

Her ideas have brought a new infusion of vitality to the organization.

a strong infusion of tea

a medicinal drink made by infusion of herbs

Recent Examples on the Web

The full impact, while substantial, was somewhat blunted by a huge infusion of onetime federal funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. —Louis Freedberg, The Mercury News, 30 May 2024

Total Time: 2 hrs 45 mins Servings: 12 Key lime pound cake gives a tropical infusion to the classic Southern pound cake. —Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 29 May 2024

Republican lawmakers are adopting plans for massive infusions of state money to help thousands more students who want to attend them. —Jennifer Berry Hawes, ProPublica, 18 May 2024

Immune cells have to be removed from a patient, shipped to specialty sites, where they’re engineered with cancer-killing abilities, and then returned to the hospital for infusion back into patients. —Elaine Chen, STAT, 16 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English infusion, infusioun "act of pouring in (a medicine), injection, what is poured in, liquid extract," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French infusion "liquid extract," borrowed from Latin infūsiōn-, infūsiō "pouring in (of a medicament)," from infud-, variant stem of infundere "to pour in, instill" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at infuse

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

infusion

noun

in·​fu·​sion in-ˈfyü-zhən 

1

: the act or process of infusing

an infusion of new ideas

2

: a product obtained by infusing

a strong infusion of tea

Medical Definition

infusion

noun

in·​fusion in-ˈfyü-zhən 

1

a

: the introducing of a solution (as of glucose or salt) especially into a vein

also : the solution so used

b(1)

: the steeping or soaking usually in water of a substance (as a plant drug) in order to extract its soluble constituents or principles compare decoction sense 1

(2)

: the liquid extract obtained by this process

2

: a watery suspension of decaying organic material

culturing soil amebas in lettuce infusion