infusion

English

Etymology

From Middle English infusioun, from Old French infusion, from Latin infusio, infusionem (“a pouring into, a wetting, a dyeing, a flow”), from infundo.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪnˈfjuːʒən/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -uːʒən

Noun

infusion (countable and uncountable, plural infusions)

2. A product consisting of a liquid which has had other ingredients steeped in it to extract useful qualities.

   An extract of rooibos and chamomile makes a refreshing infusion.

4. The act of steeping or soaking a substance in liquid so as to extract medicinal or herbal qualities.
5. The act of installing a quality into a person.
   • c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     [...] but in the verity of extolment / I take him to be a soul of great article and his infusion / of such dearth and rareness as, to make true diction of / him, his semblable in his mirror, and who else would / trace him, his umbrage, nothing more.

6. (obsolete) The act of dipping into a fluid.
8. (medicine) The administration of liquid substances directly into a vein for medical purposes; perfusion.

Derived terms

Related terms

• infuse

Translations

French

Etymology

Inherited from Old French, from Latin īnfūsiōnem.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛ̃.fy.zjɔ̃/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

infusion f (plural infusions)

1. infusion (liquid product which has had other ingredients steeped in it to extract useful qualities)

   Synonyms: décoction, tisane

Further reading

• “infusion”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé , 2012.