contaminate

[v. kuh n-tam-uh-neyt; n., adj. kuh n-tam-uh-nit, -neyt] /v. kənˈtæm əˌneɪt; n., adj. kənˈtæm ə nɪt, -ˌneɪt/
verb (used with object), contaminated, contaminating.
1.
to make impure or unsuitable by contact or mixture with something unclean, bad, etc.:
to contaminate a lake with sewage.
2.
to render harmful or unusable by adding radioactive material to:
to contaminate a laboratory.
noun
3.
something that contaminates or carries contamination; contaminant.
adjective
4.
Obsolete, contaminated.
Origin
1375-1425; late Middle English contaminaten < Latin contāminātus, past participle of contāmināre to defile, spoil, equivalent to con- con- + -tāminare, verbal derivative of *tāmen something touched < *tag-s-men, equivalent to tag-, variant stem of tangere to touch + -s-men resultative noun suffix; cf. examen
Related forms
contaminable, adjective
contaminative, adjective
contaminator, noun
contaminous, adjective
noncontaminable, adjective
noncontaminative, adjective
recontaminate, verb (used with object), recontaminated, recontaminating.
self-contaminating, adjective
uncontaminable, adjective
uncontaminated, adjective
uncontaminative, adjective
Synonyms
1. defile, pollute, taint, infect, poison, corrupt.
Examples from the web for contaminated
  • It suggests that one needs to be somehow inoculated to work in these martially contaminated environments.
  • She bathes in her well water, which is contaminated with barium.
  • Although water is abundant, it is not permanent resource since it is easily contaminated.
  • And once you do that it affects everything-there is no way to clean water once it is contaminated.
  • Yes, there is a chance of other people catching the bug too, as contaminated human excrements could get to drinking water sources.
  • It's true, if a meltdown were to occur, entire cities could be contaminated.
  • Samples may also be contaminated with pathogenic microbes naturally present in the environment.
  • Frightened people will spread the disease as they flee contaminated regions.
  • Food is still not available and the water is highly contaminated.
  • Foods can also be contaminated before they are purchased.
British Dictionary definitions for contaminated

contaminate

verb (transitive) (kənˈtæmɪˌneɪt)
1.
to make impure, esp by touching or mixing; pollute
2.
to make radioactive by the addition of radioactive material
adjective (kənˈtæmɪnɪt; -ˌneɪt)
3.
(archaic) contaminated
Derived Forms
contaminable, adjective
contaminant, noun
contaminative, adjective
contaminator, noun
Word Origin
C15: from Latin contamināre to defile; related to Latin contingere to touch
Word Origin and History for contaminated

contaminate

v.

early 15c., from Old French contaminer, from Latin contaminatus, past participle of contaminare "to defile," from contamen "contact, pollution," from com- "together" (see com-) + *tag-, base of tangere "to touch" (see tangent). Related: Contaminant (1934); contaminable.

contaminated in Medicine

contaminate con·tam·i·nate (kən-tām'ə-nāt')
v. con·tam·i·nated, con·tam·i·nat·ing, con·tam·i·nates

  1. To make impure or unclean by contact or mixture.

  2. To expose to or permeate with radioactivity.

con·tam·i·nant (-nənt) n.