Library / English Dictionary

CONTAMINATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make impure

Example:

The industrial wastes polluted the lake

Synonyms:

contaminate; foul; pollute

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "contaminate" is one way to...):

begrime; bemire; colly; dirty; grime; soil (make soiled, filthy, or dirty)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "contaminate"):

infect; taint (contaminate with a disease or microorganism)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

contaminant (a substance that contaminates)

contamination (the act of contaminating or polluting; including (either intentionally or accidentally) unwanted substances or factors)

contamination (the state of being contaminated)

contamination (a substance that contaminates)

contaminative (making impure by contact or mixing)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make radioactive by adding radioactive material

Example:

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

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "contaminate" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Antonym:

decontaminate (rid of contamination)

Derivation:

contamination (the act of contaminating or polluting; including (either intentionally or accidentally) unwanted substances or factors)

contamination (the state of being contaminated)

contamination (a substance that contaminates)

contaminative (making impure by contact or mixing)

Credits

 Context examples: 

It spreads from person to person through coughs, sneezes and saliva, as well as through contact with contaminated items and surfaces.

(Mumps Virus, NCI Thesaurus)

It can spread from person to person, or through contaminated food or water.

(Norovirus Infections, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Contaminated water supplies can lead to Giardia infections.

(Parasitic Diseases, NIH)

Humans are infected by contact with water and soil which have been contaminated with animal waste products.

(Leptospirosis, NCI Thesaurus)

It grows in soil and material contaminated with bat or bird droppings.

(Histoplasmosis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

You should not drink water that may be contaminated.

(Giardia Infections, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

H. pylori infection is usually acquired from contaminated food and water and through person to person spread.

(Helicobacter pylori, NCI Thesaurus)

It is usually spread through food that has been handled by an infected person, or through drinking water that is contaminated with human waste.

(hepatitis E virus, NCI Dictionary)

Infection occurs upon ingestion of contaminated water and food.

(Amoebiasis Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/KEGG)

You can also get it from coming in contact with contaminated packages of poultry.

(Campylobacter Infections, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)