contaminate

/kənˈtæməneɪt/

/kənˈtæmɪneɪt/

Other forms: contaminated; contaminating; contaminates

The verb contaminate means the same as pollute. Whether it’s food, air, or water, when you contaminate something, you make it impure or hazardous.

Contaminate comes from the Latin word contaminat-, meaning “made impure.” You can use the word to indicate that a hazardous substance has been introduced into something else, such as food that is contaminated with mold. It can also be used figuratively to describe the spoiling of a good thing, like one person's habit of gossiping that can contaminate a conversation among friends.

Definitions of contaminate

1. verb

   make impure
   synonyms: foul, pollute

   types:

   infect, taint

   contaminate with a disease or microorganism

   pollute

   contaminate (the environment) with waste or harmful substances

   superinfect

   infect (an infected cell) further or infect a cell already containing similar organisms

   smut

   affect with smut or mildew, as of a crop such as corn

   type of:

   begrime, bemire, colly, dirty, grime, soil

   make soiled, filthy, or dirty
2. verb

   make radioactive by adding radioactive material
   “Don't drink the water--it's contaminated”

   antonyms:

   decontaminate

   rid of contamination

   type of:

   alter, change, modify

   cause to change; make different; cause a transformation