CONTAMINATE


Meaning of CONTAMINATE in English

/ kənˈtæmɪneɪt; NAmE / verb [ vn ]

1.

contaminate sth (with sth) to make a substance or place dirty or no longer pure by adding a substance that is dangerous or carries disease

SYN adulterate :

The drinking water has become contaminated with lead.

contaminated blood / food / soil

2.

( formal ) to influence people's ideas or attitudes in a bad way :

They were accused of contaminating the minds of our young people.

—see also uncontaminated

►  con·tam·in·ation / kənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃn; NAmE / noun [ U ]:

radioactive contamination

—see also cross-contamination

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WORD ORIGIN

late Middle English : from Latin contaminat- made impure, from the verb contaminare , from contamen contact, pollution, from con- together with + the base of tangere to touch.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.