contaminate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To make something dirty, dangerous, or unsafe by adding harmful substances.

   This water is contaminated, so it isn't safe to drink.

2. 2
   verb

   To spoil or corrupt something by contact or mixing.

   Be careful not to contaminate the clean samples with dust.

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.

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