Does my mom have a wrong idea of the term INFILTRATE?

Question

She thinks that INFILTRATE means to plot on trying to get somebody in trouble. But here are the dictionary definitions:

1. to filter into or through; permeate.
2. to cause to pass in by filtering.
3. to move into (an organization, country, territory, or the like) surreptitiously and gradually, esp. with hostile intent: The troops infiltrated the enemy lines.
4. to pass a small number of (soldiers, spies, or the like) into a territory or organization clandestinely and with hostile or subversive intent: The intelligence agency infiltrated three spies into the neighboring country.
–verb (used without object) 5. to pass into or through a substance, place, etc., by or as by filtering.
6. Pathology. to penetrate tissue spaces or cells.
–noun 7. something that infiltrates.
8. Pathology. any substance penetrating tissues or cells and forming a morbid accumulation.

Answer 1

Your mom does have the wrong idea. I most often hear the word used with definition number 3 and 6. The main reason I heard it used with definition number 6 is that I used to do some medical transcribing.

Answer 2

Mom's on the right track, but, I would have gone with plotting to get into somewhere or someplace. TV has us believing along mom's lines. Think about Alien or any of the war movies it is based upon getting someone into trouble or trying to get them out of trouble. So without the dictionary-we can't say she was wrong because the meaning of words change and evolve! 2 years ago EVOO wasn't in a dictionary! and is Google a noun or a verb? Both! If you are doing it for school projects you have to go with the current written version or get it "wrong". Interesting that it comes from filter. Makes you wonder if going into hostile territory changes you and the territory? We have proof that it does.

Answer 3

Your mother may be confusing infiltrate with implicate.

Answer 4

I'm sooooo cornfused !! LOL !!

Answer 5

you kind of answered that for yourself..... she is wrong