transfuse: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2formal, medical, literary
Quick answer
What does “transfuse” mean?
to transfer (blood, blood products, or other fluid) from one person, animal, or container into the circulatory system of another.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to transfer (blood, blood products, or other fluid) from one person, animal, or container into the circulatory system of another.
To cause to pass from one to another; to permeate, infuse, or imbue with a quality or feeling.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core medical meaning. Slight preference in BrE for 'transfuse' in more formal/literary contexts compared to AmE, where 'infuse' or 'permeate' might be more common in figurative use.
Connotations
Equally technical and formal in both varieties.
Frequency
Low frequency in general language, but standard and high-frequency in medical contexts worldwide.
Grammar
How to Use “transfuse” in a Sentence
transfuse something into somebody/somethingtransfuse somebody with somethingbe transfused with somethingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “transfuse” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The doctors needed to transfuse two units of blood urgently.
- The speaker transfused the audience with his passionate idealism.
- The donated blood will be transfused into the recipient tomorrow.
American English
- They had to transfuse him with plasma after the accident.
- Her leadership transfused new energy into the failing project.
- The hospital is prepared to transfuse O-negative blood if needed.
adverb
British English
- The procedure was performed transfusingly, though this form is non-standard and virtually unused.
American English
- No standard adverb derived from 'transfuse' is in common use.
adjective
British English
- The adjective form is 'transfusible' (capable of being transfused), but it is highly technical and rare.
American English
- 'Transfusible' is the standard adjective in medical literature.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Figuratively, e.g., 'The new CEO transfused a sense of urgency into the company culture.'
Academic
Used in medical and biological sciences for the literal procedure. In humanities, used figuratively in literary analysis.
Everyday
Virtually unused. Laypeople would say 'give a blood transfusion' or 'infuse with'.
Technical
Standard term in medicine, hematology, and veterinary science for the procedure of transferring blood or components.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “transfuse”
- Using 'transfuse' as a synonym for general 'transfer' (e.g., *transfuse data).
- Confusing 'transfuse' (verb) with 'transfusion' (noun).
- Using the wrong preposition (e.g., *transfuse to somebody).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes, for blood and its components (plasma, platelets). Figuratively, it can be used for transferring a quality, feeling, or spirit.
In medicine, 'transfuse' is for introducing blood into the bloodstream. 'Infuse' is for introducing a solution (like saline or medication) into a vein. Figuratively, they are near-synonyms, but 'infuse' is more common.
It's rare and very formal. It would be a figurative use, e.g., 'to transfuse new life into the brand'. More common business terms are 'inject', 'instill', or 'revitalize'.
The noun is 'transfusion', as in 'blood transfusion'. The person performing it is a 'transfusionist' or more commonly, the procedure is 'performed by medical staff'.
to transfer (blood, blood products, or other fluid) from one person, animal, or container into the circulatory system of another.
Transfuse is usually formal, medical, literary in register.
Transfuse: in British English it is pronounced /trænzˈfjuːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /trænsˈfjuz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None commonly associated with 'transfuse' as a base form. Related idiom: 'a transfusion of new blood' (meaning new people people or ideas).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: TRANSFER + FUSE. You TRANSFER blood and FUSE it into another's circulatory system.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIQUID TRANSFER (A vital essence is a liquid that can be poured from one container/person into another.)
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'transfuse' used most literally and correctly?