Contaminate: meaning, definitions and examples
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contaminate
[ kənˈtæmɪˌneɪt ]
environmental pollution
To contaminate means to make something impure or unsuitable by contact or mixture with something unclean, harmful, or toxic. This can refer to water, food, air, or other substances.
Synonyms
corrupt, infect, pollute, taint
Examples of usage
- The factory's waste contaminated the river, making it unsafe for swimming.
- Improper disposal of chemicals can contaminate the soil and harm plant life.
- The bacteria in the contaminated food caused an outbreak of illness in the community.
Translations
Translations of the word "contaminate" in other languages:
🇵🇹 contaminar
🇮🇳 प्रदूषित करना
🇩🇪 verunreinigen
🇮🇩 mencemari
🇺🇦 забруднювати
🇵🇱 zanieczyścić
🇯🇵 汚染する (おせんする)
🇫🇷 contaminer
🇪🇸 contaminar
🇹🇷 kirletmek
🇰🇷 오염시키다
🇸🇦 يلوث
🇨🇿 kontaminovat
🇸🇰 kontaminovať
🇨🇳 污染 (wūrǎn)
🇸🇮 onesnažiti
🇮🇸 mengað
🇰🇿 ластау
🇬🇪 დაბინძურება
🇦🇿 çirkləndirmək
🇲🇽 contaminar
Word origin
The word 'contaminate' originated from the Latin word 'contaminatus', which means 'made impure'. The concept of contamination has been present throughout history, with societies recognizing the dangers of impurity in various forms. In modern times, the term is commonly used in the context of environmental pollution and food safety.
See also: contaminated, decontaminate, decontaminating.