An infusion is when you soak something in hot water or another liquid to draw out its flavor, color, or other properties. When you make tea, you're creating an infusion by steeping tea leaves in hot water. The water absorbs the taste, caffeine, and color from the leaves. People also make infusions with herbs, spices, or fruit: you might infuse water with lemon and mint for a refreshing drink, or infuse olive oil with garlic for cooking.

The word can also mean adding a new quality or element into something. A teacher might infuse her lessons with humor to keep students engaged. A business might receive an infusion of money from investors, giving it fresh resources to grow. In medicine, doctors sometimes give patients an infusion by slowly introducing fluids or medication directly into their bloodstream through an IV.

The key idea is that something gets absorbed or added gradually, changing what it mixes with. Whether it's flavor seeping into water or energy flowing into a tired team, an infusion brings something new that spreads throughout and transforms the whole thing.