First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
contaminate
verb con·tam·i·nate \kən-ˈta-mə-ˌnāt\
: to make (something) dangerous, dirty, or impure by adding something harmful or undesirable to it
con·tam·i·nat·edcon·tam·i·nat·ing
Full Definition of CONTAMINATE
transitive verb
1
a : to soil, stain, corrupt, or infect by contact or association <bacteria contaminated the wound> b : to make inferior or impure by admixture <iron contaminated with phosphorus>
2
: to make unfit for use by the introduction of unwholesome or undesirable elements
— con·tam·i·na·tive \-ˌnā-tiv\ adjective
— con·tam·i·na·tor \-ˌnā-tər\ noun
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Origin of CONTAMINATE
Middle English, from Latin contaminatus, past participle of contaminare; akin to Latin contingere to have contact with — more at contingent
Related to CONTAMINATE
Synonym Discussion of CONTAMINATE
contaminate, taint, pollute, defile mean to make impure or unclean. contaminate implies intrusion of or contact with dirt or foulness from an outside source <water contaminated by industrial wastes>. taint stresses the loss of purity or cleanliness that follows contamination <tainted meat> <a politician's tainted reputation>. pollute, sometimes interchangeable with contaminate, distinctively may imply that the process which begins with contamination is complete and that what was pure or clean has been made foul, poisoned, or filthy <the polluted waters of the river>. defile implies befouling of what could or should have been kept clean and pure or held sacred and commonly suggests violation or desecration <defile a hero's memory with slanderous innuendo>.
Rhymes with CONTAMINATE
abbreviate, abominate, accelerate, accentuate, accommodate, acculturate, accumulate, adjudicate, adulterate, affiliate, agglomerate, alienate, alleviate, alliterate, amalgamate, ameliorate, amyl nitrate, annihilate, annunciate, anticipate, apostolate, appreciate, appropriate, approximate, arpeggiate, articulate, asphyxiate, assassinate, asseverate, assimilate, associate, at any rate, attenuate, authenticate, barbiturate, bicarbonate, calumniate, capacitate, capitulate, catholicate, certificate, coagulate, coelenterate, collaborate, commemorate, commiserate, communicate, compassionate, concatenate, conciliate, confabulate, confederate, conglomerate, congratulate, consolidate, cooperate, coordinate, corroborate, deactivate, debilitate, decapitate, decelerate, decerebrate, deconcentrate, deconsecrate, decorticate, decrepitate, de-escalate, defibrinate, defoliate, degenerate, deliberate, delineate, demodulate, denominate, depopulate, depreciate, deracinate, deregulate, desegregate, desiderate, detoxicate, devaluate, diaconate, dilapidate, discriminate, disintegrate, disseminate, dissimulate, dissociate, domesticate, effectuate, ejaculate, elaborate, electroplate, eliminate, elucidate, emaciate, emancipate, emasculate, encapsulate, enumerate, enunciate, episcopate, equivocate, eradicate, etiolate, evacuate, evaluate, evaporate, eventuate, eviscerate, exacerbate, exaggerate, exasperate, excited state, excogitate, excoriate, exfoliate, exhilarate, exonerate, expatiate, expatriate, expectorate, expostulate, expropriate, extenuate, exterminate, extrapolate, facilitate, felicitate, fish or cut bait, garrison state, gesticulate, habilitate, habituate, hallucinate, humiliate, hydrogenate, hypothecate, illuminate, impersonate, inactivate, inaugurate, incarcerate, incinerate, incorporate, incriminate, indoctrinate, inebriate, infatuate, infuriate, ingratiate, ingurgitate, initiate, inoculate, inseminate, insinuate, instantiate, intercalate, interpolate, interrelate, interrogate, intimidate, intoxicate, invalidate, investigate, invigorate, irradiate, Italianate, Korea Strait, lanceolate, legitimate, luxuriate, mandarinate, manipulate, matriarchate, matriculate, Merthiolate, necessitate, negotiate, noncandidate, obliterate, officiate, Orange Free State, orientate, originate, oxygenate, participate, particulate, patriarchate, patriciate, perambulate, peregrinate, perpetuate, pontificate, precipitate, predestinate, predominate, prefabricate, premeditate, preponderate, prevaricate, procrastinate, prognosticate, proliferate, propitiate, proportionate, quadruplicate, quintuplicate, reciprocate, recriminate, recuperate, redecorate, reduplicate, reeducate, refrigerate, regenerate, regurgitate, reincarnate, reintegrate, reiterate, rejuvenate, remunerate, repatriate, repudiate, resuscitate, retaliate, reticulate, revaluate, reverberate, scholasticate, second estate, self-flagellate, self-immolate, self-pollinate, seventy-eight, sextuplicate, Singapore Strait, sophisticate, subordinate, substantiate, syllabicate, tergiversate, transliterate, triangulate, vanity plate, variegate, vaticinate, vituperate, vociferate
CONTAMINATED Defined for Kids
contaminate
verb con·tam·i·nate \kən-ˈta-mə-ˌnāt\
con·tam·i·nat·edcon·tam·i·nat·ing
Definition of CONTAMINATE for Kids
1
: to soil, stain, or infect by contact or association <The wound was contaminated by bacteria.>
2
: to make unfit for use by adding something harmful or unpleasant <The water is contaminated with chemicals.>
Medical Dictionary
contaminate
transitive verb con·tam·i·nate \kən-ˈtam-ə-ˌnāt\
con·tam·i·nat·edcon·tam·i·nat·ing
Medical Definition of CONTAMINATE
1
: to soil, stain, or infect by contact or association <bacteria contaminated the wound>
2
: to make inferior or impure by admixture <air contaminated by sulfur dioxide>
—con·tam·i·na·tive \-ˌnāt-iv\ adjective
—con·tam·i·na·tor \-ˌnāt-ər\ noun
Learn More About CONTAMINATE
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