adulterate

[v. uh-duhl-tuh-reyt; adj. uh-duhl-ter-it, -tuh-reyt] /v. əˈdʌl təˌreɪt; adj. əˈdʌl tər ɪt, -təˌreɪt/
verb (used with object), adulterated, adulterating.
1.
to debase or make impure by adding inferior materials or elements; use cheaper, inferior, or less desirable goods in the production of (any professedly genuine article):
to adulterate food.
adjective
2.
adulterated.
3.
adulterous (def 1).
Origin
1580-90; < Latin adulterātus mixed, adulterated (past participle of adulterāre), equivalent to ad- ad- + -ulter (perhaps combining form of alter other; see alter) + -ātus -ate1
Related forms
adulterator, noun
unadulterate, adjective
Can be confused
adulterer, adulterate.
British Dictionary definitions for adulterate

adulterate

verb (əˈdʌltəˌreɪt)
1.
(transitive) to debase by adding inferior material: to adulterate milk with water
adjective (əˈdʌltərɪt; -ˌreɪt)
2.
adulterated; debased or impure
3.
a less common word for adulterous
Derived Forms
adulteration, noun
adulterator, noun
Word Origin
C16: from Latin adulterāre to corrupt, commit adultery, probably from alter another, hence to approach another, commit adultery
Word Origin and History for adulterate
v.

1530s, back-formation from adulteration, or else from Latin adulteratus, past participle of adulterare "to falsify, corrupt," also "to commit adultery." Earlier verb was adulter (late 14c.). Related: Adulterated; adulterating.