contaminate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb make impure
    foul; pollute.
    • The industrial wastes polluted the lake
  2. verb make radioactive by adding radioactive material
    • Don't drink the water--it's contaminated

WordNet

Con*tam"i*nate transitive verb
Etymology
L. contaminatus, p.p. of contaminare to bring into contact, to contaminate, fr. contamen contagion, for contagmen; con- + root of tangere to touch. See Contact.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Contaminated ; present participle & verbal noun Contaminating
Definitions
  1. To soil, stain, or corrupt by contact; to tarnish; to sully; to taint; to pollute; to defile.
    Shall we now Contaminate our figures with base bribes? Shak.
    I would neither have simplicity imposed upon, nor virtue contaminated. Goldsmith.
    Syn. -- To pollute; defile; sully; taint; tarnish; soil; stain; corrupt.
Con*tam"i*nate adjective
Definitions
  1. Contaminated; defiled; polluted; tainted. "Contaminate drink." Daniel.

Webster 1913