contaminate
To make something dangerous or toxic by introducing impurities or foreign matterTo make something dangerous or toxic by introducing impurities or foreign matter.
» The water Tom drank was contaminated.
Meaning
4 senses(transitive)To make something dangerous or toxic by introducing impurities or foreign matter.
This water is contaminated. It isn't safe to drink.
verunreinigen, verseuchen, kontaminieren
загрязня́тьzagrjaznjátʹ, загрязни́тьzagrjaznítʹ
(transitive)To soil, stain, corrupt, or infect by contact or association.
(transitive)To make unfit for use by the introduction of unwholesome or undesirable elements.
Do not contaminate the peanut butter with the jelly.
(transitive)To infect, usually of a deadly virus.
- make radioactive by adding radioactive material
- make impure
Examples
47 sentencesThe water Tom drank was contaminated.
Tom died because he had eaten some contaminated beef.
ruТом умер, потому что съел какую-то зараженную говядину.
What we ended up learning was that the meat had been contaminated.
Is there any chance you have eaten any of the contaminated food?
Is there any chance that you have eaten any of the contaminated food?
Translations
7 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
First attested in the early 15ᵗʰ century, in Middle English; from Middle English contaminaFirst attested in the early 15ᵗʰ century, in Middle English; from Middle English contaminaten (“to defile; to infect with desease”), from contaminat(e) (“sullied, defiled; infected with desease”, also used as the past participle of contaminaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), from Latin contāminātus, the perfect passive participle of contāminō (“to touch together, blend, mingle, corrupt, defile”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), which see for further informations. More at taste, tax, and taxi.
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Forms
contaminates, contaminating, contaminated, contaminated| Base form | contaminate · to contaminate |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | contaminates |
| Present participle | contaminating |
| Past simple | contaminated |
| Past participle | contaminated |
regular · Lesson
Synonyms
98 synonymsAntonyms
1 antonymsWord family
11 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle