contaminate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to make radioactive by adding radioactive material

   Don't drink the water--it's contaminated

2. 2
   verb

   To make something dangerous or toxic by introducing impurities or foreign matter.

   This water is contaminated. It isn't safe to drink.

3. 3
   verb

   To soil, stain, corrupt, or infect by contact or association.

   Shall we now Contaminate our figures with base bribes?

4. 4
   verb

   To make unfit for use by the introduction of unwholesome or undesirable elements.

   Do not contaminate the peanut butter with the jelly.

5. 5
   adj

   Contaminated.

   And that this body conſecrate to thee, By Ruffian Luſt ſhould be contaminate!

6. 6
   verb

   to make impure

7. 7
   verb

   To infect, usually of a deadly virus.

8. 8
   adj

   Dirty, sinful, wicked, gross, etc.

Etymology

First attested in the early 15ᵗʰ century, in Middle English; from Middle English contaminaten (“to defile; to infect with desease”), from contaminat(e) (“sullied, defiled; infected with desease”, also used as the past participle of contaminaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), from Latin contāminātus, the perfect passive participle of contāminō (“to touch together, blend, mingle, corrupt, defile”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), which see for further informations. More at taste, tax, and taxi.