contaminate
/kənˈtæmɪneɪt/ verb B2- To make something dangerous or toxic by introducing impurities or foreign matter. · This water is contaminated. It isn't safe to drink.
- To soil, stain, corrupt, or infect by contact or association.
- To make unfit for use by the introduction of unwholesome or undesirable elements. · Do not contaminate the peanut butter with the jelly.
- To infect, usually of a deadly virus.
He/she/it contaminates · Past contaminated · Past participle contaminated · -ing form contaminating
Verb forms
- Base form
- contaminate
- He/she/it
- contaminates
- Past
- contaminated
- Past participle
- contaminated
- -ing form
- contaminating
From the library
Consequently, modern investigative protocols increasingly emphasize the necessity of open-ended questioning to avoid inadvertently contaminating a witness's fragile mental record.
More importantly, the systematic removal of contaminated water from the immediate vicinity of the populace drastically reduced the widespread transmission of devastating waterborne diseases.
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