saturate

[v. sach-uh-reyt; adj., n. sach-er-it, -uh-reyt] /v. ˈsætʃ əˌreɪt; adj., n. ˈsætʃ ər ɪt, -əˌreɪt/
verb (used with object), saturated, saturating.
1.
to cause (a substance) to unite with the greatest possible amount of another substance, through solution, chemical combination, or the like.
2.
to charge to the utmost, as with magnetism.
3.
to soak, impregnate, or imbue thoroughly or completely:
to saturate a sponge with water; a town saturated with charm.
4.
to destroy (a target) completely with bombs and missiles.
5.
to send so many planes over (a target area) that the defensive electronic tracking equipment becomes ineffective.
6.
to furnish (a market) with goods to its full purchasing capacity.
verb (used without object), saturated, saturating.
7.
to become saturated.
adjective
8.
saturated.
noun
9.
a saturated fat or fatty acid.
Origin
1530-40; < Latin saturātus (past participle of saturāre to fill), equivalent to satur- full, well-fed (see sad) + -ātus -ate1
Related forms
desaturate, verb (used with object), desaturated, desaturating.
oversaturate, verb (used with object), oversaturated, oversaturating.
Synonyms
3. See wet.
Examples from the web for saturate
  • Pour this over the bread, making sure to saturate all of it.
  • Politicians cannot shake enough hands and therefore need to saturate the media to make themselves known.
  • But the limit is that it will saturate the developed world, to the point where you can compare it to television.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine bread cubes and enough milk to saturate them.
  • The camera will write slower and you'll saturate its internal buffer sooner.
  • Not only is it more expensive, but the amplified signal may saturate your tuner, making matters worse.
  • The announcement of a new model typically lowers prices as used phones saturate the resale market.
  • saturate your head with olive oil right before bed, cover with saran wrap, and wash it out the next morning.
  • Now, the trick is to slowly pour in half of the water in a circular motion, being sure to evenly saturate all of the grounds.
  • These chemicals saturate the developing cubs-both males and females-and make them more aggressive.
British Dictionary definitions for saturate

saturate

verb (ˈsætʃəˌreɪt)
1.
to fill, soak, or imbue totally
2.
to make (a chemical compound, vapour, solution, magnetic material, etc) saturated or (of a compound, vapour, etc) to become saturated
3.
(transitive) (military) to bomb or shell heavily
adjective (ˈsætʃərɪt; -ˌreɪt)
4.
a less common word for saturated
Derived Forms
saturater, saturator, noun
Word Origin
C16: from Latin saturāre, from satur sated, from satis enough
Word Origin and History for saturate
v.

1530s, "to satisfy, satiate," from Latin saturatus, past participle of saturare "to fill full, sate, drench," from satur "sated, full," from PIE root *sa- "to satisfy" (see sad). Meaning "soak thoroughly" first recorded 1756. Marketing sense first recorded 1958. Related: Saturated; saturating.

saturate in Medicine

saturate sat·u·rate (sāch'ə-rāt')
v. sat·u·rat·ed, sat·u·rat·ing, sat·u·rates
Abbr. sat.

  1. To imbue or impregnate thoroughly.

  2. To soak, fill, or load to capacity.

  3. To cause a substance to unite with the greatest possible amount of another substance.

  4. To satisfy all the chemical affinities of a substance; neutralize.

  5. To dissolve a substance up to that concentration beyond which the addition of more results in a second phase.

sat'u·ra·ble (sāch'ər-ə-bəl) adj.
sat'u·ra'tor n.