Transfuse is a verb with several distinct meanings. It can refer to giving a blood transfusionA medical procedure that gives blood into a person’s body., graduallySlowly, in small stages over time. passing an idea or feeling to someone, treating with cups on the skin in older medical use, or pouring liquid from one containerA thing used to hold or store something. to another.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /trænzˈfjuz/
Easy pronunciation: tranz-FYOOZ (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the second syllable: trans-FUSE.
Medical verb meaning to give blood or another fluid into a person’s body.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Transfuse Meaning
to give blood or another fluid into a person’s body
Part of speech: verb
Definition: give a transfusion of blood or another fluid to someone
Example: The patient needed to be transfused after surgery.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- transfuse — Core medical sense of giving blood or fluid to a patient.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Transfuse
Meaning 2
to pass a feeling, idea, or quality to someone slowly
Part of speech: verb
Definition: impart gradually
Example: The teacher tried to transfuse a love of music into the students.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- instill — Best match for slowly putting an idea, belief, or feeling into someone.
Meaning 3
to treat someone with cups placed on the skin
Part of speech: verb
Definition: treat by applying evacuated cups to the patient's skin
Example: The practitioner transfused the patient using cups on her back.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- cup — Matches the older medical meaning of treating with cups.
Meaning 4
to pour liquid from one container into another
Part of speech: verb
Definition: pour out of one vessel into another
Example: The wine was transfused into a clean bottle.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Transfuse Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- give a transfusion
- infuse
impart gradually
- instill
treat with cups on the skin
- cup
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse transfuse with infuse. Transfuse usually means giving blood or fluid, or passing something gradually to someone.
- The medical blood-related sense is much more common today than the older meanings.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does transfuse mean in medicine?
In medicine, transfuse means to give blood or another fluid into a patient’s body, usually through a vein.
Can transfuse mean to inspire someone?
Yes. It can mean to gradually pass a feeling, quality, or idea to someone, as in transfusing a love of music into students.
Is transfuse the same as infuse?
Not exactly. Infuse usually means to soak, steep, or fill something gradually. Transfuse more often refers to giving blood or fluid, or passing something on to a person.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.