— impregnation , n. — impregnator , n. — impregnatory /im preg"neuh tawr'ee, -tohr'ee/ , adj.
v. /im preg"nayt, im"preg nayt'/ ; adj. /im preg"nit, -nayt/ , v. , impregnated, impregnating , adj.
v.t.
1. to make pregnant; get with child or young.
2. to fertilize.
3. to cause to be infused or permeated throughout, as with a substance; saturate: to impregnate a handkerchief with cheap perfume.
4. to fill interstices with a substance.
5. to furnish with some actuating or modifying element infused or introduced; imbue, infect; tincture.
adj.
6. impregnated.
[ 1535-45; impraegnatus ptp. of impraegnare to fertilize, impregnate, equiv. to im- IM- 1 + praegn- (see PREGNANT) + -atus -ATE 1 ]
Syn. 3. permeate, infuse, penetrate.