/ 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
••
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.