infusion

infusion — noun

1. the addition of new money, skills, or ideas into a person, group, or system so t

1.nounB2
Definition

the addition of new money, skills, or ideas into a person, group, or system so that it becomes stronger or more effective

Example

Sophia's company received an infusion of cash from a local investor.

collocation: infusion of cash / infusion of capital

Ada's school gained an infusion of new teaching methods after the training program.

verb pattern: receive/gain an infusion of + noun phrase

Common collocations
  • cash infusion
  • capital infusion
  • talent infusion
  • new infusion
Synonyms
  • injection

    more sudden and forceful; implies a temporary jolt rather than steady integration

  • addition

    neutral and broader; does not carry the strengthening connotation

  • boost

    temporary lift, usually in amount, energy, or confidence

Antonyms
  • drain

    a removal or loss of resources that weakens rather than strengthens

  • reduction

    a decrease in amount, with no strengthening effect

Grammar Patterns

an infusion of + noun phrase

Usage Note

Commonly followed by an of-phrase naming what is added, such as cash, capital, talent, or ideas. The thing that receives the infusion is typically an organization, team, or system (not a person).

Common Mistakes

The company needs an injection of new money.
The company needs an infusion of new money.
'injection' suggests a sudden, forceful addition; 'infusion' suggests a steady, integrating addition.

2. a beverage made by putting plant material such as flowers, leaves, or dried frui

2.nounB1
Definition

a beverage made by putting plant material such as flowers, leaves, or dried fruit into boiling water and letting the flavors seep into the liquid

Example

Asher drinks a chamomile infusion every night before bed.

collocation: chamomile infusion / herbal infusion

Camille made a ginger and lemon infusion to soothe her sore throat.

food context: ginger and lemon infusion as a home remedy

Common collocations
  • herbal infusion
  • chamomile infusion
  • strong infusion
  • weak infusion
Synonyms
  • tisane

    formal term for herbal tea, less common in everyday speech

  • herbal tea

    more widely understood term for the same drink

  • brew

    informal; can refer to any hot drink made by steeping

Grammar Patterns

a/an + [adjective] + infusion

infusion of + [plant]

Usage Note

In everyday language, 'tea' is more common for drinks made from tea leaves. 'Infusion' is preferred for drinks made from herbs, flowers, or fruit that do not contain actual tea (Camellia sinensis).

Common Mistakes

I made a tea infusion this morning.' (redundant).
I made an herbal infusion this morning.
'tea' is already a type of infusion; use 'infusion' specifically for non-tea plant drinks.

3. a medical treatment in which liquid medicine or a nutrient solution is slowly de

3.nounB2
Definition

a medical treatment in which liquid medicine or a nutrient solution is slowly delivered into a patient's bloodstream through a tube placed in a vein

Example

Defne received a saline infusion through a drip in her arm.

collocation: saline infusion / intravenous infusion

Niran had to stay in the hospital for a four-hour antibiotic infusion.

duration pattern: [time] + [medicine] + infusion

Common collocations
  • saline infusion
  • antibiotic infusion
  • IV infusion
  • continuous infusion
Synonyms
  • drip

    informal synonym for the same procedure; 'on a drip' is common in everyday speech

  • IV

    abbreviation for intravenous; can refer to the whole setup or the liquid

Grammar Patterns

a/an + [adjective] + infusion

infusion of + [substance]

Usage Note

Frequently used in hospital settings. The substance is typically named before the word 'infusion' (e.g., saline infusion, antibiotic infusion, glucose infusion). Do not confuse with 'transfusion,' which is specifically for blood products.

Common Mistakes

The patient needs a blood infusion.
The patient needs a blood transfusion.
'infusion' is for drugs and nutrient solutions; 'transfusion' is specifically for blood and blood products.

4. a technique in which plant material, such as leaves or bark, is soaked in hot or

4.nounC1
Definition

a technique in which plant material, such as leaves or bark, is soaked in hot or cold liquid so that the beneficial chemicals dissolve into the liquid

Example

Xiu uses a cold-water infusion to extract flavor from the dried flowers.

method type: cold-water infusion / hot-water infusion

Sade's laboratory infusion method requires steeping the bark for two hours.

technical process: infusion method + duration

Common collocations
  • cold infusion
  • hot infusion
  • water infusion
  • alcohol infusion
Synonyms
  • steeping

    focuses on the soaking action; more specific to the immersion step

  • maceration

    a related but distinct process that usually involves softening by soaking, not necessarily extracting

  • extraction

    broader term; can involve methods other than soaking, such as pressing or distillation

Grammar Patterns

[adjective] + infusion

infusion of + [substance] + in + [liquid]

Usage Note

This sense describes the laboratory or culinary process itself, not the resulting drink. Distinguish from sense 2 (HERBAL DRINK), which focuses on the finished beverage. The process is commonly used in chemistry, cooking, and traditional medicine.

Common Mistakes

The infusion took three minutes to prepare.' (ambiguous).
The cold-water infusion process took three hours to extract the compounds.
specify whether you mean the drink (sense 2) or the extraction technique (sense 4) to avoid confusion.

Word family

  • infuse
    verbB2
  • infused
    adjectiveB2
  • infuser
    nounC1
  • infusible
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Infusion, injection, addition, and boost all describe bringing something new into a situation, but they differ in feel and use. An infusion suggests a steady, integrating flow that becomes part of the whole — new money blends with existing funds, new ideas merge with old ones. An injection is more sudden, forceful, and often temporary, like a quick jolt of energy that may not last. Addition is neutral and factual — anything added, whether welcome or unwelcome, large or small. A boost is a short-term lift, often in confidence, morale, or numbers. For example: 'The team received an infusion of experienced players' (steady integration) vs. 'The team received a boost when their star player returned' (temporary lift). 'A cash injection kept the store open' (sudden fix) vs. 'A cash addition to the budget' (neutral fact).

injection ↗addition ↗boost ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • an infusion of
  • intravenous infusion

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Infusion comes from the Latin word 'infusio,' meaning a pouring into. It breaks down into 'in-' (into) and 'fundere' (to pour). The word entered English through French in the 1400s, first describing the physical act of pouring liquid into something. By the 1500s it was used for steeping herbs in water, and by the 1800s it had developed both the medical sense (intravenous drips) and the metaphorical sense (adding something to strengthen).