transcription, транскрипция: [ kən-ˈta-mə-ˌnāt ]
transitive verb
( -nat·ed ; -nat·ing )
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin contaminatus, past participle of contaminare; akin to Latin contingere to have contact with — more at contingent
Date: 15th century
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
Synonyms:
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